Re: [boost] [lexical_cast] A suggestion

Subject: Re: [boost] [lexical_cast] A suggestion
From: Ben Muzal (bmuzal_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-02-08 14:33:03

> In fact, if we put together all the badly needed functionality that
> overlaps with lexical_cast, and give it appropriate interfaces, I'm not
> entirely convinced that there would be much use for lexical_cast
> anymore.

Really what is with all of the "slippery slope" arguments? People are
not asking for the kitchen sink. We just want a nothrow version of the
cast and to do that, a default value is needed.

I always use my own extension "lexical_cast_nothrow" operator anyway
that just catches the  exception and returns a supplied default value
if necessary.

Lots of times there are cases when a default value simply will not be
acceptable, but quite often one will. Why can't it be easy to support
both models?

 I had not even heard of the <optional> library until reading this
thread.  I might update my little boost extension after checking to
see how <optional> affects performance and code bloat -- but really,
<optional> looks rather more complicated than necessary.

I heard once that google was experimented with the number of search
results that it returned. If they returned 100 results instead of 10,
the search took .4 seconds longer. They found that the extra delay
reduced the number of searches by 20% within the experimental group.

The moral of the story: some times it is the little conveniences that
count. I think that supplying a 'nothrow' version of lexical_cast is
one of those little conveniences that would definitely count.

--Ben