[boost] Re: Re: Re: Re: DLL/SO loading library.

From: Vladimir Prus (ghost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-04-29 01:04:22

Stefan Seefeld wrote:

> Vladimir Prus wrote:
> 
>> You might know only base type of plugin and textual name, but don't know
>> the exact type you want to create. You also don't want to invoke
>> constructor by mangled name ;-)
> 
> That's what factories are for. In fact, that's how all C++ plugins I'v
> worked with so far were designed. A single entry point in terms of a C
> linkage function that is *assumed* to return an object of a given type
> (interface), and let that do all the rest.

Right, and that approach is fine. But a library can add some details:

1. You won't have to write boilerplate code that creates a map from string
to function that creates a class, and the entry point that lookups in the
map and calls the function.
2. You will be able to pass arguments to constructor.
3. No portability problems. 

- Volodya