[boost] Re: Re: Boost to the rescue

From: Paul Baxter (pauljbaxter_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-04-15 15:45:21

> Martin Wille wrote:
>> It's pretty sad that someone like Robert who wrote an amazing and so
>> useful piece of software and who managed to get it reviewed and
>> accepted
>> by most knowledgeable and experienced software developers doesn't
>> receive any reputation bonus for his contribution.

Having spent the last six months trying to recruit C++ developers and asking 
if they've heard of boost to be met with blank faces I tend to agree with 
Robert.

BTW I have a couple of openings on the south coast of England :)

>> <lament>
>> What makes me really worry is that many places even seem to be unaware
>> of the fact that there is a C++ standard. I'm afraid most software is
>> still being written by copy-pasting stuff from questionable sources on
>> the web by people who don't understand what they're doing.
>> </lament>

Its worse than that, many C++ programmers are oblivious to anything other 
than Microsoft libraries. Even STL???
(I'm not trying to defame Microsoft because what it does, it does to get the 
job done even if elegance/efficiency sometimes take a tumble).

>
> My main point was my disappointment at how the programming community seems
> to see that everything is OK.   The newer programming languages Java, C#,
> VB, etc don't offer anything new in my opinion.  I feel like I'm the only
> person seeing this.  Its lonely - that's why I monitor this list.

I disagree with respect to supporting libraries etc.
I think C++ also needs to take a good hard look at itself and its usability. 
Just because through some perversion of templates and metaprogramming 
certain things can be done (cool even!), doesn't mean thats the way they 
should be done.

Boost libraries are fantastic in what they do, but they are only a small 
subset of the tools that professional developers need to have at their 
fingertips. I can't help feeling that the C++ standard has NOT taken on 
anywhere near enough productivity libraries to stem the flow of programmers 
to .NET and (and in some respects java).

Still in 10 years someone will realise productivity libraries and 
multi-threading really need to be built into any successful language 
including those expected to run quickly and efficiently.