Re: [boost] Bug in boost::rational, no Boolean conversion; an operator template suggestion

From: Jonathan Turkanis (technews_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-07-17 00:57:21

Daryle Walker wrote:
> I'm writing a class template where the template parameter is a type
> that should represent real numbers.  It started choking when using
> boost::rational when I needed Boolean conversion, e.g.

> Before anyone says that's proper, realize that boost::rational DOES
> have "operator not()" defined!  This is a surprise to the typical C++
> programmer.  Either both should be defined, or neither.  I think that
> boost::rational should add a Boolean conversion.  (It's a quick fix,
> and it is critical, so it should be done for this release.)

Off the top of my head, I can't think why it shouldn't be added. However, there
might be a good reason I can't think of, and adding the operator could
conceivably break existing code, so I don't think it's appropriate to stick it
in a few days before release.

I'll add it to the list of feature requests for 1.34.

In the mean time, maybe you can use != 0 or !!

Jonathan