RE: [boost] Math functions - requirements 'spec'

From: Paul A Bristow (pbristow_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-11-10 13:22:20

I'm have for some time been in direct contact with PJP
and fully understand his state of 'function fatigue'
which makes him reluctant to do another lot with
an apparently uncertain commercial future,
when someone else might do a bit of spadework at least.

His standards are notoriously high ;-)

So I can fully understand that he would like someone else
to have a stab at 'the rest of the functions'.

I don't expect to meet the quality he has produced,
but it might still be 'Fit-for-Purpose' and prove
that the need exists and can be filled.

(I'd also note that PJP has made the job significantly more 
time consuming for everyone at least by demanding C and C++ versions!)

So I hope to produce a sample function for Boosters delectation
in a while - but don't hold your breath.

Paul

Paul A Bristow
Prizet Farmhouse, Kendal, Cumbria UK LA8 8AB
[phone]  [phone]
mailto: pbristow_at_[hidden]

| -----Original Message-----
| From: boost-bounces_at_[hidden] 
| [mailto:boost-bounces_at_[hidden]] On Behalf Of Matt Austern
| Sent: 09 November 2004 18:48
| To: boost_at_[hidden]
| Subject: Re: [boost] Math functions - requirements 'spec'
| 
| On Tue, 9 Nov 2004 16:36:02 -0000, Paul A Bristow
| <pbristow_at_[hidden]> wrote:
| 
| > Nonetheless, many thanks for your thoughts and helpful suggestions.
| 
| Actually, I was thinking that I should really tell you what would be
| my most helpful suggestion: *if* your goal is to get this
| standardized, as opposed to producing a library for Boost users, then
| what you should probably do first is get in touch with P. J. Plauger
| and convince him of one of two things: either (a) this won't be as
| hard to implement as he thinks it is; or (b) even if it is that hard,
| it'll be worth it.
| 
| What we hard from him in Redmond was (paraphrased): Dinkumware is one
| of the few companies in the world witht he expertise to do
| high-quality implementations of mathematical special functions, it has
| finally finished implementing the special functions from TR1, and it
| took about a solid year of work.  Having looked at your proposal,
| Dinkumware thinks that implementing it would take at least another
| year.  Numbers like that scare people.
| 
| If you can convince people that Dinkumware's numbers are off by a
| factor of ten, then people might be more enthusiastic.  Ultimately
| that will involve a conversation between you and P. J. Plauger, so
| it's probably better for you to talk to him directly instead of having
| me trying to be a messenger.