[boost] [system] Why is this not header-only?

From: Julio M. Merino Vidal (jmmv84_at_[hidden])
Date: 2007-04-02 09:45:39

Hello,

In my Boost.Process prototype, I have a custom class to encapsulate  
errors coming from system calls and other functions from the  
underlying OS.  For the record, it is here:

https://boost-consulting.com:8443/trac/soc/browser/boost/soc/2006/ 
process/trunk/boost/process/exceptions.hpp?order=name

I'd like to drop this custom class and instead use the ones provided  
by the recently introduced Boost.System.  However, Boost.System is a  
binary library, while Boost.Process is currently a header-only  
library.  Personally, I'd prefer to keep it that way if possible  
because it is much easier to use it in third-party code.

So my question is... why is Boost.System not a header-only library?   
Could it be changed to be so?

Thank you.

PS: Maybe I should simply discard the goal of providing Boost.Process  
as a header-only library because I have the same problem with  
Boost.Filesystem...  But well, that's a different issue that doesn't  
belong to this thread ;-)

-- 
Julio M. Merino Vidal <jmmv84_at_[hidden]>