Re: [boost] Defining compilers suggestion

From: Edward Diener (eddielee_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-07-10 09:10:43

Tobias Schwinger wrote:
> Edward Diener wrote:
> 
>>It would be much easier, and less confusing, when looking at compiler 
>>workarounds in Boost code if their were defines for various 
>>compilers/versions in a configuratiion header file such as:
>>
>>#define BOOST_COMPILER_SOME_COMPILER_LOWER (PREPROCESSOR_TAG >= nnnn)
>>#define BOOST_COMPILER_SOME_COMPILER_UPPER (PREPROCESSOR_TAG <= nnnn)
>>#define BOOST_COMPILER_SOME_COMPILER (BOOST_COMPILER_SOME_COMPILER_LOWER 
>>&& BOOST_COMPILER_SOME_COMPILER_UPPER)
>>
>>where SOME_COMPILER might be VC71,GCC40 etc.
>>
>>Then in code one could see:
>>
>>#if defined(BOOST_COMPILER_VC71) etc.
>>
>>rather than the less understandable
>>
>>#if defined(MSC_VER == nnnn) etc.
>>
>>I would just like to see more readability in the Boost code regarding 
>>compiler workarounds. I am also aware their is a workaround macro, but 
>>even that deals in compiler preprocessor tags rather than a more 
>>readable compiler version. I am aware that many workarounds have to deal 
>>with versions before or after a certain version number but even that can 
>>be made more readable by macros which tell one the actual compiler which 
>>is involved.
>>
>>I realize I am just a reader of Boost code and not a Boost developer but 
>>I think this suggestion would make for a little more readable code in 
>>its own small way.
>>
> 
> 
> How about these?
> 
>    #define BOOST_COMPILER_WITH_VERSION(compiler,version) \
>      (compiler == version)
> 
>    #define BOOST_COMPILER_ABOVE_VERSION(compiler,version) \
>      (compiler > version)
> 
>    #define BOOST_COMPILER_FROM_VERSION(compiler,version) \
>      (compiler >= version)
> 
>    #define BOOST_COMPILER_BELOW_VERSION(compiler,version) \
>      ((compiler != 0) && (compiler < version))
> 
>    #define BOOST_COMPILER_UP_TO_VERSION(compiler,vesionr) \
>      ((compiler != 0) && (compiler <= version))
> 
>    #define BOOST_COMPILER_FROM_TO_VERSION(compiler,min_version,max_version) \
>      ((compiler != 0) && ((compiler >= min_version) && (compiler <= max_version)))
> 
> Example:
> 
>    #if BOOST_COMPILER_BELOW_VERSION(BOOST_MSVC,1400)
>      ...
>    #endif

No, you have missed my entire point. I want a specific compiler version, 
by a name which everybody knows, ie. VC71, BCB6 etc., to be associated 
with the preprocessor tags which the compiler vendor uses to specify 
that version of the compiler, ie. MSC_VER, __BORLANDC__, in such a way 
that the code in Boost which provides workarounds or specific code for a 
given compiler, actually refers to a macro which easily identities that 
compiler. Your macros above just duplicate the difficulty which already 
exists in Boost in identifying a well-known name for a compiler/version 
with the preprocessor macro used in Boost to identify it.