Re: [boost] A design for geometric objects

Subject: Re: [boost] A design for geometric objects
From: Bruno Lalande (bruno.lalande_at_[hidden])
Date: 2008-11-14 10:46:01

Hello,

>> polygon_90_concept is the base most type of polygon.  It's corners are
>> restricted to multiples of 90 degrees and its edges are axis-parallel.  It
>> is the base most type because it is the most restricted.

That's exactly what I thought while reading Luke's explanation.

> You may want to read that article on Wikipedia:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle-ellipse_problem
>
> Basically, inheriting an Ellipse from a Circle is always wrong, and
> inheriting a Circle from an Ellipse is wrong if the Ellipse view of the
> Circle is mutable.

Wouldn't a typically C++-like approach be to use traits to ask each
shape to present itself as an ellipse if it can?

ellipse_traits<X>::get_length() and ellipse_traits<X>::get_width()
would give the length and width that X has when viewed as an ellipse.
ellipse_traits<ellipse> would simply define them as being its length and width.
ellipse_traits<circle> would define them as both being its radius.
specialization ellipse_traits<rectangle> would not exist, meaning that
a rectangle is-not-an ellipse.
ellipse and circle would obviously be 2 completely separated classes.

Do you think this approach is valid and could be generalized to all
geometric shapes?

Bruno