Re: [boost] Yet another variant-style type, and boost inter-library dependencies

From: Beman Dawes (bdawes_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-01-04 20:54:34

At 01:52 PM 1/4/2005, christopher diggins wrote:

 >In general I am curious about how other boosters feel about boost library 

 >sizes and inter-library couplings. For me this is a big obstacle to using 

 >boost in many circumstances. It doesn't seem to be a concern at all for 
the
 >boost community, but I wonder if other programmers have similar 
sentiments
 >and find themselves often seeking out simpler alternatives.

Boost has an unusual characteristic when it comes to coupling. Because a 
number of Boost libraries that have proven widely useful have been accepted 
as part of the C++ Standard Library (via TR1), coupling involving these 
libraries will change from Boost coupling (which could be seen as negative) 
to standard library coupling (which is usually seen as far less negative).

The C++ committee is starting work on a second library technical report. I 
assume that more Boost libraries will be proposed for TR2. So the reduction 
of coupling between Boost libraries will probably continue.

Secondly, when Boost developers use someone else's Boost library, they have 
a long history of identifying problems and suggesting improvements. This is 
part the reason that Boost libraries are of relatively high quality. I 
don't think we want to do anything to discourage that.

Boost libraries should continue to use other Boost libraries where useful, 
IMO. Excess coupling only becomes "excess" when it serves little useful 
purpose.

--Beman