[boost] Re: New design proposal for boost::filesystem

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-08-22 10:42:23

Carlo Wood <carlo_at_[hidden]> writes:

>> I'm among them.  However, I have a hard time articulating what I found
>> difficult about the library, other than that the path portability
>> checks seemed to get in my way.  If there's something deeper going on,
>> I'd like to hear your opinion of what it is.
>
> I am afraid that I too have a hard time to point out any clear
> error that is so clear that everyone will immdeately agree that
> it is an error.  

The goal isn't to get everyone to agree; it's to explain what you're
trying to fix.  As you mentioned in the text I snipped, this is a
simple request for examples of things that don't work.

> This thing is hard to grasp, and THAT is the reason
> that I think that it will be extra-ordinairy hard to convince enough
> people on this list that a change is not only needed, but that a
> particular change will be the one that is needed.  If not
> impossible.
>
> I therefore, unfortunately, will have to stick to my opinion that
> it is too unlikely that this discussion is going to lead to an
> actual change of boost::filesystem, to put more time into it.

No offense intended, but I find this extremist attitude hard to grasp.
Writing a rationale should hardly take you a quarter of the energy
you've already invested in writing up proposals, and is all that's
required for the group to even get started understanding what you're
proposing.

A pity. 

-- 
Dave Abrahams
Boost Consulting
http://www.boost-consulting.com