Re: [boost] Why use Boost?

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-02-03 07:50:23

Paul Giaccone <paulg_at_[hidden]> writes:

> David Abrahams wrote:
>
>>"Matt Doyle" <mdoyle_at_[hidden]> writes:
>>  
>>
>>>A potential new user needs a way to find out what exactly is in
>>>boost. Right now if I want to solve a particular problem and I don't
>>>know which library to use, I basically have to drill down through
>>>the list and read the overview for each one.
>>>    
>>>
>>
>>What would you propose as a better system?
>>  
>>
> The issue is this: the current documents say "Library X does Y", or, in 
> functional notation, y = foo(x).  If you know x, you can find y.  
> Unfortunately, the new user knows y, and so needs x = bar(y), where 
> bar() is the inverse of foo().  (What's more, the user doesn't even know 
> that they need x = bar(y) because they don't know that Boost deals with 
> y by providing bar(y) until they start hunting through the docs.)
>
> A better system would be (in addition to what is already there, rather 
> than as a replacement for it) to provide this inverse function in the 
> docs, so, in addition to the alphabetical list at 
> http://boost.org/libs/libraries.htm (which is foo()) there is a list 
> corresponding to bar(), but with a little more detail.  

That's what http://www.boost.org/libs/libraries.htm#Category is all
about.

> I am thinking of 
> something along the lines of:
>
> Standard C++: *Memory allocation on the heap*, which requires careful 
> management by the user
> Boost: *Smart pointers*, which do not require this kind of management
>
> (with the emboldened text or something similar to catch the user's eye)
>
> Now, I know what you're thinking - come on then, walk the walk, 
> contribute a list and we'll put it in the documentation.  

Brilliant!

> I would do this but I am only familiar with a handful of the
> libraries.  

So look at their introductory abstracts.  It's just a few clicks from
here to there.

> If this idea is taken on, it needs to be implemented by a person who
> is, or group of persons who between them are, familiar with all of
> the libraries.

You could do 90% of the work and ask for corrections.

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