RE: [boost] Re: static sized strings

From: Reece Dunn (msclrhd_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-05-18 06:48:34

John Nagle wrote:
>   With no base class for all fixed_string types, though,
>there's no way to pass fixed_string objects around, short
>of templating every function that uses them.
>
>   A base class seems to be needed.  Otherwise, there's
>no direct replacement for "char *" arguments.

I have uploaded an initial version of this. I wanted to wait before I 
approached the base class concept for two main reasons: (a) I wanted to move 
the interface closer to that of std::basic_string and (b) I wasn't sure how 
to implement it as a template on character type.

The interface names have been moved to the corresponding basic_string/STL 
names (assign, append, etc.).

The approach I have used for the base classes retains the template on 
character type, using MPL machinery to select the appropriate base class. 
Note that this is not perfect, since I still need a constraint to limit 
CharT to char and wchar_t, or provide an additional template parameter that 
defaults to the MPL machinery, allowing you to provide your own interface 
for custom string types.

>   Here's a simple test program.  It should be possible
>to do the common operations done here.  That doesn't
>seem possible with the latest version in the Boost
>sandbox.

This should work with the appropriate name changes:
   boost::char_string is now boost::fixed_string (although it still 
currently resides in fixed_string/char_string.hpp);
   boost::char_string_base is boost::char_string for readability;
   boost::wchar_string_base is boost::wchar_string for readability;

Regards,
Reece

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