Re: [boost] [Review] Phoenix review starts today, September 21st

Subject: Re: [boost] [Review] Phoenix review starts today, September 21st
From: Paul A Bristow (pbristow_at_[hidden])
Date: 2008-09-30 10:54:58

>-----Original Message-----
>From: boost-bounces_at_[hidden] 
>[mailto:boost-bounces_at_[hidden]] On Behalf Of Peter Dimov
>Sent: 30 September 2008 14:29
>To: boost_at_[hidden]
>Subject: Re: [boost] [Review] Phoenix review starts today, 
>September 21st
>
>David Abrahams:
>...
>> If I were to vote, I think I would feel obliged to vote no 
>despite my 
>> implicit trust in Joel's abilities and sense of 
>responsibility that tells 
>> me it'll probably turn out alright.  It's frustrating that 
>we've managed 
>> to get ourselves in this situation, but I don't think we 
>should ever be 
>> reviewing code that isn't what the author intends to release.
>
>I think I disagree, for entirely practical reasons. First, I very much 
>suspect that the relative lack of exposure to the wider Boost 
>community has 
>held Phoenix back. It would have been a better library now had 
>it been at 
>top level. More so, had it been labeled as the way forward for 
>Lambda users. 
>For me, this formal review, formal in the formality sense, has 
>already been 
>delayed far too much.
>
>Second, things always take longer than planned. Waiting for 
>Phoenix V3 may 
>turn out to not be a particularly good idea, in hindsight.

I too am concerned that failure to accept V2 into Boost now will mean that far fewer people try to use Phoenix and thus the number
of people able to contribute to a V3 review will be far less.

As many have observed, people are reluctant to use libraries unless they are in the regular release.  (I know Phoenix V2 is
available in Spirit, but I'm not sure people will find it, or see why they should use it.  Joel's documentation to V2 makes it clear
what it all about and when to use it.)

As long as we are totally upfront about V2 being a stepping stone to V3, I doubt if the supposed gain in stability is really worth
it.

Paul

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