Re: [boost] [system][filesystem v3] Question about error_code arguments

Subject: Re: [boost] [system][filesystem v3] Question about error_code arguments
From: Peter Dimov (pdimov_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-10-20 11:33:45

Beman Dawes wrote:
> A POSIX sub-group is looking at C++ bindings for POSIX.
>
> They are talking about a filesystem library binding at least loosely
> based on Boost.System, Boost.Filesystem, and C++ TR2.
>
> In looking at
> http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/papers/2009/n2838.html,
> "Library Support for Hybrid Error Handling (Rev 2)", they are
> concerned about specifying hybrid error handling like this:
>
>     void f(error_code& ec=throws());
>
> They would rather see it specified like this:
>
>     void f(error_code* ec=0);

...

> Regardless, I'd like to hear Boosters views on the two interfaces
> above. Which do you prefer? Why?

I prefer the pointer form, because it's idiomatic. The reference form is an 
invention.