Re: [boost] [gsoc][student] Proposal

Subject: Re: [boost] [gsoc][student] Proposal
From: Mathias Gaunard (mathias.gaunard_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-03-20 13:49:36

Kasra wrote:
> Hi,
> 
>> Why the C-like interface?
>> Why not work with iterator, or better, ranges?
> 
> The reason for that is there are multiple layers of encapsulation in the library. 
> 
> block_cipher_type is the core algorithm, which is part of the lowest-level of the API.
> However, there is a block_cipher wrapper "block_cipher" that provides C++ semantics (iterators, ranges, specialised "crypto_buffers" and etc).

You cannot express the iterator version in terms of the pointer version.
Genericity doesn't work that way.

You write the algorithm generically, then you can have specific cases.
You don't build genericity on top of specific cases.