Re: [boost] Re: algorithms namespace

From: Peter Dimov (pdimov_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-02-24 07:02:55

Powell, Gary wrote:
> I'm siding with Dave A and the longer names.

You are missing most of the points, though. ;-)

> You can always shorten it in your code with an alias.

This is precisely what makes it dangerous. Design mistakes that have a
trivial workaround are the worst, because you will never get the feedback
that will set you on the right path. Everyone just patches around it
locally.

> For me it's a matter of future expansion, and maintenance, we have
> boost::bind, and boost::lambda::bind, and perhaps soon
> boost:fcpp::lambda which is the namespace which the function? If we
> use apprev. 4 everythg, thn, we lose contx.

No we do not. The abbrv anlgy is flwd. It's more like English::this
English::kind English::of English::writing versus en::this en::alternative
en::style.

> boost::fs  =? "FileSystem", "FastSort", "FirstSearch",
> "FloatingSymbols".... yes these are a bit contrived but you can
> usually use "using namespace", or a namespace alias safely within a
> function scope. Then when you leave the company the next poor
> maintainer of your code has a chance.
>
> Also a global search is easier if the letters to be searched for are
> more or less a unique set.

Of course it isn't. Your global search for 'filesystem' will only find using
directives and namespace alias directives. A global search for 'fs' will
stand a better chance to point you to the lines that actually use something
from 'fs'.