Re: [boost] Review - boost::log

Subject: Re: [boost] Review - boost::log
From: Vladimir Prus (ghost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2010-03-14 05:16:56

On Sunday 14 March 2010 07:21:08 Tom Brinkman wrote:

> Should boost log  be accepted into the boost library?
> 
> My vote is no.
> 
> This library will just reinforce boost's reputation as being a repository of
> needlessly complicated highly templatized libraries for relatively easy
> programming tasks.
> 
> I don't mind this added complexity when it comes to genuinely difficult
> problem
> spaces.  In my view, however, logging is not one of those problem spaces.
> 
> Logging is one of those things that if it takes longer than
> 10 minutes to read the documentation and get up to speed, it will not
> get used.
> 
> 
> 
> What is your evaluation of the design?
> 
> Very much in the spirit of a typical boost library.
> 
> However, it has very little attention to "C" interfaces and makes
> heavy use of templates.
> 
> I suppose because this is boost, that that is acceptable.  However,
> boost and the c++ community at large should start moving towards a
> more friendly attitude
> towards a "C" style api for utility libraries.
> 
> Most non-boost c++ developers will dismiss this library out of hand,
> not because its a bad
> library, its not, it's just more of the same.  Heavy handed use of
> templates.

Tom,

can you list some areas where templates are overused by the library?
I imagine it will not be possible to rip those usage, but probably
simpler alternatives can be provided.

- Volodya