Re: [boost] 5 Observations - My experience with the boost libraries

Subject: Re: [boost] 5 Observations - My experience with the boost libraries
From: Stewart, Robert (Robert.Stewart_at_[hidden])
Date: 2010-03-24 08:27:34

Tom Brinkman wrote:
>
> Those of us that started out learning C++ before ever
> learning C, have had to do lots of backfilling.
>
> By learning C, what I mean is getting really good at pointer
> manipulations and managing memory yourself.

I started with a couple of years of C programming (following BASIC, FORTRAN, etc.), moved on to C++ in 1987, IIRC, and never looked back.  Even so, I once did all the code I could using pointers and pointer arithmetic, just to cement those concepts in my mind.  Others, of course, spent more time with C before moving to C++.  The point is that many hard core C++ programmers actually know something about C, too.

> C++ encourages all sorts of programming practices that I wish I never
> learned and have never been very useful to me as a programmer.

What are those?  I can't say I know of anything that fits that description.  If you can give concrete examples, we could make them Boost guidelines.

> Sorry to say, but as a graphics programer, C++ is practically
> useless.  Its all C.

Ah, now we come to the crux of the matter.  In your world, "C++ is practically useless," so that generalizes to the rest of the programming world and means Boost isn't relevant to today's programmers.

> For Boost to remain relevent, it needs to reflect the reality
> of modern development.  That is most projects are mixed C/C++
> projects.  The needs of both communities need to be met.

I reject your statement out of hand.  Most projects are not mixed C and C++.  Some are, some aren't.  We don't do *any* C here, for example.

> Because boost only meets the needs of C++ developers, it will
> continue to loose relevance.
>
> I'm just saying what people are thinking.

You're just saying what *some* people are saying.  The question is whether there are things Boost can do better that would be of use to all, not just to C programmers.

_____
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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