Re: [boost] [property] interest in C# like properties for C++?

Subject: Re: [boost] [property] interest in C# like properties for C++?
From: Gennadiy Rozental (rogeeff_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-10-21 16:50:58

> A.X() = B.X() = 5 isn't horrible, but A.X = B.X = 5 is what one expects when
one thinks of "properties."

Sorry, if I jump in in the middle of the discussion.

Boost.Test uses properties with syntax like this:

int i = a.p_X;

a.p_X.value = 1;

This syntax IMO has couple advantages:

1. From encapsulation standpoint this is as good as having explicit setter and
getter.

2. I do not like to allow a.p_X = 1. ".value" syntax allows me to grep easily
for all the encounters of property modification. This is especially useful in
situations where there are myriads of read-only access and only couple mutating
ones.

3. Single line definition:

readwrite_property<int> p_X;

Instead of 3 lines required by data member, getter and setter.

4. I also have readonly_property, which can restrict mutating access to the
property value for all classes (in which case property initialized in a
constructor once and never changes). Or I can have readonly property with fixed
list of classes allowed mutating access.

Gennadiy