[boost] typeof: what to register?

From: Arkadiy Vertleyb (vertleyb_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-12-18 14:19:55

Hi all,

Here is a question: besides primitive types, which types/templates should be
registered as a part of typeof library?

The first candidate is STL.  The containers, functors, binders, etc.

The STL iterators is a separate question.  In most STL implementations they
are typedefs, and therefore their template names are non-standard and
different.  In Dinkumware they are nested classes, and so are the subject to
non-deduced context, which prevents them from being registered in a trivial
way.  Peder does have a solution for this, based on a bug in VC7.1 that
allows to work-around non-deduced context (I am personally against using
this, although I have to admit that it does the job).  So, if we decide to
put #ifdefs, based on STL implementation, and *if* we decide to use Peder's
solution, it looks like we can take care of all the standard library
(including iterators) on the typeof lib level.

I have to note here that, if we decide against iterator registration,
iterator instantiations can be always registered as needed, by the end user:

BOOST_TYPEOF_REGISTER_TYPE(MyClass)
BOOST_TYPEOF_REGISTER_TYPE(std::vector<MyClass>::iterator)

I think if other libraries want to be supported by typeof (like Spirit, for
example), those libraries should register their types/templates themselves
(just because of synchronisation issue).  Any help would be provided, of
course.

I would greatly appreciate any opinions on the subject.

Regards,
Arkadiy