Re: [boost] New Boost.XInt Library, request preliminary review

Subject: Re: [boost] New Boost.XInt Library, request preliminary review
From: Stewart, Robert (Robert.Stewart_at_[hidden])
Date: 2010-03-30 07:15:16

Chad Nelson wrote:
> On 03/29/2010 05:26 AM, Paul A. Bristow wrote:
>
> > While there are things that are mathematically right or wrong, the
> > application or user may not consider this important.
>
> I'm trying to set up the library so that, if the user knows what to
> expect mathematically, he isn't surprised at any XInt behavior.

Doing so can make the library less approachable to those without the mathematical expectations.  Be careful about purity in this sense.

> > Policies allow the user to get exceptions thrown when something
> > 'nasty' happens (like divide by minus zero say), or not.
> >
> > Existing code may rely on getting a NaN, or may rely on
> > *not* getting a NaN. Policies allow users to decide.
>
> Exactly what I was intending with the exception-blocking mechanism.

Your approach involves runtime cost, I think.  Policies allow altering the implementation, at compile time.

How does one mix code wanting exceptions with code not wanting them?  With policies, the two types differ, but can be designed for interoperability.

_____
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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