[boost] Re: Customer Friendlier Boost Installation

From: Jeff Flinn (TriumphSprint2000_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-05-26 08:18:50

Dave,

"David Abrahams" <dave_at_[hidden]> wrote in message 
news:uhdgqudpi.fsf_at_boost-consulting.com...
> "Hendrik Schober" <SpamTrap_at_[hidden]> writes:
>
>> Caleb Epstein <caleb.epstein_at_[hidden]> wrote:
>>> [...]
>>> I really think the Getting Started guide is more than adequate, and is
>>> concise and easy to follow.  There are gigantic yellow numbers next to
>>> the important steps.  [...] really how much more hand-holding
>>> does one need?
>>
>>   OK, so I went to the that guide, downloaded boost
>>   1.32, downloaded bjam.exe, unzipped everything,
>>   and typed, IMHO according to the guide,
>
>>     C:\Temp\Download\boost\boost_1_32_0>..\bjam.exe bjam 
>> "-sTOOLS=VC71_ROOT" stage
>      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Surely you didn't type any of that stuff?

...

> But where did you get the idea that VC71_ROOT was a legal toolset
> name?

Is there a reason that all of the xxx_ROOT variables couldn't just be ROOT? 
Isn't the context defined by the "-sTOOLS=..." parameter? Removing these 
additional names would certainly reduce the users conceptual load.

As I stated elsewhere, the lack of consistency in the TOOLS naming 
convention for VC Toolset adds confusion as well.

msvc   // VC6.5 can we add vc6_5?
vc7    // VC7   would vc7_0 be better?
vc-7_1 // VC7.1 why the dash? why not vc7_1?

These variations add unnecessary perceptual complexity. Kind of like having 
different handles in different places on each cabinet in your kitchen. If 
they were all:

vc6_5
vc7_0
vc7_1

the pattern is readily visible when viewing the table. The first time users 
comfort level goes up magnitudes. Additionally the Toolset table would be 
better placed immediately after the Item 5 example: 'bjam "-sTOOLS=vc7_1" 
stage'. Also the two different terms 'Toolset' and 'TOOLS' adds complexity 
as well. Using a single term for the concept and the command line parameter 
would further reduce conceptual load.

By the way, many of these 'opinions' are based on reading the book "The 
Design of Everyday Things" by Donald A. Norman. Oddly enough, most(if not 
all) of the boost library interfaces follow guidelines discussed in the 
book. :-)

Jeff Flinn