Re: [boost] boost dll versions

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-08-16 14:52:17

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

> ----Original Message----
> From: David Abrahams [mailto:dave_at_[hidden]]
> Sent: 16 August 2005 14:19
> To: boost_at_[hidden]
> Subject: Re: [boost] boost dll versions
>
>>> While the breadth of support has helped boost gain wide acceptance,
>>> it is also the single biggest fault of the library as well.
>> 
>> ?? Breadth of support has many benefits and only a few costs, and most
>> of those fall on the library maintainers.  Library users (ahem, like
>> you) might pay for a slight reduction in velocity, but that's all.
>
> No, there are two further costs that library users pay:
> a) Features that are not implemented because they are too hard on older
> compilers.
> b) Features that use a less convenient syntax because supporting the more
> convenient syntax is too hard on older compilers.

Those things don't generally happen, because we have an unwritten
policy of coding for the ideal and asking users to jump through a few
extra hoops when using a substandard compiler.  See, for example,
http://www.boost.org/libs/mpl/doc/tutorial/incomplete-support-for.html

> c) Features that are not implemented because the library maintainer has
> spent her limited time on maintaining support for older compilers.

That's velocity.

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