Re: [boost] Boost.SQL, SOCI and beyond

From: Jeff Garland (jeff_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-10-04 20:02:34

Nicola Musatti wrote:
> Jeff Garland wrote:
>> Nicola Musatti wrote:
>>> Hallo,
>>> a few months ago there was a discussion on how a database interface library
>>> would be a welcome addition to TR2 and the SOCI developers suggested that SOCI
>>> could be a valid candidate for that role
>>> (http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.lib.boost.devel/140816). They also
>>> mentioned their intention to make SOCI ready for submission to Boost.
>>>
>>> Was any progress made on this issue? Is there any interest in reopening the
>>> discussion on such a library, SOCI submission notwithstanding?
>> I'm not sure what there is to discuss.  It didn't happen :-( And TR2 
>> submission time is over.  I still want to see SOCI or the equivalent in Boost, 
>> but the authors have to bring it forward.  Last I knew they were waiting to 
>> have an ODBC driver first.  I didn't see the need for that, but they thought 
>> it was essential...
> 
> Missing the TR2 deadline was unfortunate, but probably putting together 
> a valid proposal deserved more time than was available, even with such 
> an impressive starting point such as SOCI.

I think there was more than enough time.  I tried to talk everyone working on 
the various database libraries to work together to bring a proposal.  I didn't 
succeed in convincing them :-(

> Lately I've been trying to put together a few ideas on how I think such 
> a library should look like and I'd be happy to discuss them with anybody 
> who is interested. To get the ball rolling, here is an example of how a 
> program using my hypothetical Boost.Dbi (for DataBase Interface) library 
> might look like:

<...snip detail...>

Well before I even consider engaging this discussion, why not help SOCI get 
into boost instead of inventing a new interface?  We have several proposals 
and half-finished libraries, but the real problem is that we don't have an 
actual reviewed and accepted library to put into Boost.  Are you going to have 
time to really develop this library from scratch?

In my view, SOCI has all the qualities to succeed as a Boost library including 
a clean, good documentation, support for multiple databases, and several 
developers to support it.  So maybe you should start by downloading, 
installing, and reviewing the SOCI interface in comparison to what you are 
thinking?

Jeff