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Subject: Re: [boost] Official warnings policy?
From: Stewart, Robert (Robert.Stewart_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-11-09 14:25:00


Emil Dotchevski wrote:
> On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 6:27 AM, Stewart, Robert
> <Robert.Stewart_at_[hidden]> wrote:
>
> > Determining whether a policy is unfair is subjective. If
> > one considers,
> > in this case, that zero warnings at some Boost-established warnings
> > setting is important to demonstrating code quality and to make the
> > job of reviewers as easy as possible, then it is a fair policy.
>
> Alternatively, the reviewers could compile at lower warnings level.
> Most likely they wouldn't even need to do that, because they will
> simply build using the author scripts, which will likely produce a
> build without warnings.

Either is certainly possible, but if there are established warning levels, it is reasonable to expect that level or stricter. A reviewer should be able to examine the library as any Boost user would. Why would following a warnings policy be different unless a specific exception were incorporated into the policy?

> > If reviewers are expected to judge code quality and it produces
> > myriad warnings with established warnings settings, what might
> > reviewers conclude?
>
> The only reasonable conclusion is that the author prefers a lower
> warning level, or uses a different compiler. As far as I am concerned,
> a library should be evaluated only based on its documented interface.

A reasonable conclusion is that the submitter chose to ignore established Boost norms and doesn't care about the effect on reviewers, your assertion to the contrary notwithstanding.

If trying to test against the library produces myriad warnings at established Boost warning levels, as a Boost user should expect, the reviewer shouldn't judge the usability of the library highly.

_____
Rob Stewart robert.stewart_at_[hidden]
Software Engineer, Core Software using std::disclaimer;
Susquehanna International Group, LLP http://www.sig.com

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