[boost] [pimpl] Proposal. Determining interest.

From: Vladimir.Batov_at_[hidden]
Date: 2007-10-15 19:33:46

I wrote a Pimple generalization thin interface layer on top of 
boost::shared_ptr or boost::impl_ptr (uploaded in the Boost Vault as 
Pimpl-01.zip). Based on previous discussions I extended my original 
suggestion to support pointer and value semantics. The code is very simple 
but offers the following advantages:

1. First is obviously implementation hiding. The reason Pimpl come to 
being in the first place.
2. Pimpl-based classes only define pure application interface without any 
usual scaffolding.
3. Memory management is fully encapsulated (delete and new) to minimize 
abuse/mis-use.

Currently I've been using and testing it only in pointer-semantics mode. 
If it is determined that there is sufficient interest in the suggestion, 
we'll need to bring in Peter Dimov's impl_ptr and extend it a bit (that's 
my current impression.Peter might prove me wrong) 

Thanks,
Vladimir.