[boost] Re: TR2 and C++0x heads up

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-04-24 06:35:01

Beman Dawes <bdawes_at_[hidden]> writes:

> The C++ standards committee's Library Working Group has proposed a schedule 
> for library changes and extensions:
>
>     * October 2005: cutoff date for C++0x major library proposals
>     * October 2006: cutoff date for library TR2 proposals
>     * April 2007: cutoff date for C++0x library clean-up papers
>
> The usual rule-of-thumb is that new library components go in TR2, while 
> changes to existing components go in C++0x. The LWG will consider 
> exceptions to the rule on a case-by-case basis.
>
> The LWG is planning to issue a "Call for Proposals" with details, but in 
> the meantime Boost developers might want to start thinking about which 
> Boost libraries they want to propose to the LWG. Because most proposals go 
> through one or more revisions before being accepted, it helps a proposal's 
> chances if it reaches the committee as many meetings as possible before the 
> final cut-off.
>
> So far there are plans to propose Boost.Threads...

Really?  I have been under the impression for a long time that those
plans had withered.  What's going on that I don't know about.

Progress towards a C++ threading API standard is a big concern for me.
Several efforts have been talked about, but none are proceeding in a
manner that gives me confidence we're going to get the job done.  Part
of it may be that any work being done is insufficiently visible to the
public eye, i.e. mine ;-).  Even if people find it more practical to
work in private I think it may be important to make visible status
reports.  Otherwise the interested community will either be:

a. working at cross-purposes, or
b. waiting for the other guy to produce results

More likely, both.

I'm also concerned that none of the practicable dates mentioned above
will make the EWG's cutoff date for C++0x, and I'm not sure we can
afford to release another standard without threading support.

-- 
Dave Abrahams
Boost Consulting
www.boost-consulting.com