Re: [boost] Preprocessor: Nested loops

From: Paul Mensonides (pmenso57_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-02-21 07:57:04

> -----Original Message-----
> From: boost-bounces_at_[hidden] 
> [mailto:boost-bounces_at_[hidden]] On Behalf Of Paul Mensonides

> Well, it isn't a good option, IMO, even in an in-house 
> project.  A DSEL is better than a non-embedded DSL (e.g. 
> Spirit compared to YACC) for a variety of reasons.  It is 
> better to do as much as you can with what you have (i.e. the 
> language).  External tools for code generation should only be 
> used as a very last resort.  More important than the 
> introduction of another build step, the use of external code 
> generators creates a significant barrior to entry and 
> represents an unbounded number of possible code constructions 
> (that aren't part of C++) in C++ code.  It comes down to the 
> same reason that a standard definition of C++ is 
> important--which is not just portability, but portable understanding.

This reminds me, BTW, of the "intentional programming" paradigm.  The really
powerful part of that paradigm is that you can do anything--i.e. even with the
syntax itself.  The really problematic part of that paradigm is that you can do
anything--i.e. even with the syntax itself.  IOW, it becomes a collection of
anything and everything all thrown together--there is no coherent language, just
a language system.  One of the benefits of a more finite language is that the
set of semantics is also finite--and that really is a good thing overall
(despite how often we may beat are heads against it).

Regards,
Paul Mensonides