Re: [boost] Exception lib?

From: Emil Dotchevski (emildotchevski_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-07-09 13:57:02

Felipe Magno de Almeida wrote:

>> People use interfaces to allow for different implementation
>> strategies. But the only implementation possible for
>> get_exception_info is to use dynamic_cast!
>
> That is not the only reason. The implementation is just a detail from
> a user point of view, things that expose that implementation become a
> distraction to the user.

Are you saying that the user knows that the object returned by failed<T> 
derives from both T and exception info, yet is distracted by the fact that 
dynamic_cast can be used to go from T * to exception_info *?

I'm not arguing that to have a function get_exception_info is 
unreasonable --  someone may have their reasons to define it. But IMO this 
is beyond the scope of the exception library.

>> Therefore, to me anyway, get_exception_info's purpose is to hide the
>> dynamic_cast so I don't get emails like "why do you have a
>> dynamic_cast as part of your interface". It's not part of the
>> interface, it's part of C++. It does exactly what you need when you
>> catch(T&) and want to see if you can get an exception_info *.
>
> If a user has to use dynamic_cast to be able to use the library then
> it is part of the interface too, IMO.

The users also have to use "throw" to use the library, and indeed it makes
sense to hide it in a function (or a macro) because someone might want to
compile with exception handling disabled. Or to not throw if it's Friday the
13th. But this is beyond the scope of the exception library.

> And asking why seems to me like
> a very reasonable question.

I'm not arguing that "why haven't you hidden the dynamic_cast in a function"
is unreasonable question.

> Now, using dynamic_cast to implement the
> library is not a problem, since it is not of my concern as a user.

Except that it is also reasonable for someone, after reading the
documentation, to be puzzled why was it necessary to write
get_exception_info when dynamic_cast is the only way it can be implemented.

> As an example of good implementation hiding, boost::function uses
> void* all over the place, albeit its interface is as clean and
> straightforward as it can be. Even if void* is or isnt the only
> implementation possible.

There are many other examples that (correctly) hide implementation details
behind an interface. There are many cases about which I'd agree that hiding
a dynamic_cast behind an interface is necessary.

Regards,
Emil