Re: [boost] generative geometry algorithms library idea

Subject: Re: [boost] generative geometry algorithms library idea
From: Paul A Bristow (pbristow_at_[hidden])
Date: 2008-09-25 13:06:45

>-----Original Message-----
>From: boost-bounces_at_[hidden] 
>[mailto:boost-bounces_at_[hidden]] On Behalf Of Brandon Kohn
>Sent: 22 September 2008 21:29
>To: boost_at_[hidden]
>Subject: [boost] generative geometry algorithms library idea

>I've been doing some work for the past few weeks on a 
>generative/generic 2D geometry library (leaving open the 
>possibility for 3D in the future). The idea is for all the 
>algorithms to be generative taking coordinate, point, segment, 
>polyline/gon types as template parameters (or deducing where 
>presented as nested typedefs) and specialized traits types for 
>accessing type traits and methods ( things like 
>access_traits<point_type>::get_x( point ) .).

> So far the 
>library has allowed me to work with the same algorithms in 
>native floating type and exact types like gmp's mpq_class. 
>It's just a first rough draft of ideas, and I would really 
>like some input from the community to see if I'm on the right 
>track for something that boost would be interested in having. 

This all looks interesting stuff of course.

And the use of templates is adventurous.  I trust it does not mean that the need for both compile and runtime speed won't lead some
to reject the library outright.

I presume one could also use it with other arbitrary (but inexact) precision libraries?

Past discussions on geometry have not produced a consensus on design/spec :-((

So you may prefer to ignore that and simply present your version.

There is the little matter of some documentation ;-)

Paul

PS I see you have neatly 're-solved' the floating point comparison problems, and present them in a more generally useful form that
in Boost.Test.  I find the function names a step too long, but I feel that they would be most useful as a independent module. 

---
Paul A Bristow
Prizet Farmhouse, Kendal, Cumbria UK LA8 8AB
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pbristow_at_[hidden]