[boost] Re: [1.33.0] Feature freeze reminder

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-05-24 06:45:24

Martin Bonner <martin.bonner_at_[hidden]> writes:

> Subject: [boost] Re: Re: [1.33.0] Feature freeze reminder
>
>> "Martin Slater" <mslater_at_[hidden]> wrote in message
>> news:428EBB2F.5060101_at_hellinc.net...
>>>> The problem is that I want to add code that will handle the
>>>> previous pointer version.  My concern is that users might want to
>>>> use 1.33 to read archives created under 1.32 and without this
>>>> addition this won't be possible.  I presume that some numbers of
>>>> people would be effected by such a situation. If not I could just
>>>> forget it. 
>>> 
>>> Without backwards compatibility with the old shared pointer
>>> serialization I for one would not be able to upgrade to the latest
>>> version until it appears. All a pain really as I was looking forward
>>> to the new improved version.
>> 
>> I'll second that.
>> 
>> Jeff Flinn
>
> Is it being suggested that "adding backwards compatibility" is a new
> feature, as opposed to fixing a bug?  
>
> I think it will be /enormously/ damaging to Boost's reputation for
> professional quality software if it is not possible to read a 1.32 archive
> with 1.33.  It doesn't take long to build a reputation for "you can never
> read a file from old versions", and FOREVER to get rid of it.

Yeah, I think this probably falls under "bug fixing," or at least
"critical feature without which we had better not ship."

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