Re: [boost] Re: [review] Formal review of

From: Dave Harris (brangdon_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-10-12 06:13:56

In-Reply-To: <loom.20041011T172801-139_at_[hidden]>
nesotto_at_[hidden] (Thorsten Ottosen) wrote (abridged):
> If there is no null in the tree, then why test for it?

The test is to prevent moving a null dog to the tree.

> I suspect having null is reasonable, but I explicitly requested to see 
> the code.

There is no real code; the example was invented to illustrate the 
importance of post-conditions. Which is another way of putting what it 
says in the .pdf file you referenced: the Null Object pattern is not 
universally applicable. The point is general and not about the specific 
code. Are you claiming that Null Object is, in fact, applicable in every 
situation? If not, just imagine I picked an example where you agree its 
not applicable. If, on the other hand, you believe no such example is 
possible, then you surprise me.

Regardless I don't think further discussion is appropriate here, because 
it is not crucial to the Smart Container proposal. As I said in my 
original message:

   ... this is no more an argument against ptr_vector<Dog> than it
   is against std::vector<Dog>.

In saying that I was supporting your proposed library. Given that 
ptr_vector<T> behaves more like vector<T> than vector<T*>, the restriction 
on NULLs is logical and reasonable. 

-- Dave Harris, Nottingham, UK