Re: [boost] Review - boost::log

Subject: Re: [boost] Review - boost::log
From: Artyom (artyomtnk_at_[hidden])
Date: 2010-03-14 17:27:20

> 
> Most of my recent projects have consisted of ripping out
> templated
> code and replacing it with "C" friendly "API's".
> 
> I still prefer C++ for most tasks.  However, I like to
> wrap them in "C"
> api's so others can use them.  Using stream operators
> or std::string in a public API is a absolutly horrible
> thing to do around
> here.

Few points:

Indeed "C" API is much nicer in terms of shortness and usability
but:

1. It is limited to basic types only.

In comparison:

   debug_log("player position (%f,%f,%f)",pos.x,pos.y,pos.z)

or
   debug_log() << format("player position %1%") % pos.

This makes the difference.

Yes, templates are heavy, bloated hard to compile and to be honest... I
quite hate to use heavily "templated" libraries (see ASIO awesome piece of
software that drives me crazy when it comes to compilation times).

But... Once C++0x comes things would be simpler and faster at least
in printf like cases.

For a long time period I preferred C style printfs, but now I
use boost::format like API anywhere even it costs me a lot in terms
of compilation times.

Why? Flexibility that "C" API does not have.

Same for Boost.Locale I created iostreams based `boost::locale::format`
because it is much more powerful.

So... 

1. Yes iostreams heavy bloated and requires endless compilation times.
2. But iostreams are so much flexible that it worth it. Take a look
   on what can be done with iostreams in Boost.Locale... Quite amazing
   things. 

Artyom