Re: [boost] [wiki] Warning Guidelines for VC

Subject: Re: [boost] [wiki] Warning Guidelines for VC
From: Paul A. Bristow (pbristow_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-01-01 09:58:00

> -----Original Message-----
> From: boost-bounces_at_[hidden] [mailto:boost-bounces_at_[hidden]]
> On Behalf Of Michael Caisse
> Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2011 12:12 AM
> To: boost_at_[hidden]
> Subject: Re: [boost] [wiki] Warning Guidelines for VC
> 
> On 12/31/2010 07:40 AM, Paul A. Bristow wrote:
> > Well it's really good to get news from the 'horse's mouth'  - even if
> > the news is bad!
> >
> > So it would seem that there is no reliable way to determine if any
> > code (including STL) is C++ Standard Conforming, apart from trying to
> > compile it on a non-Microsoft Standard Conforming Compiler in strict
> > mode?
 
> We might have different philosophies, but I would not have trusted any
single
> compiler for that information. 

Nor me!  Not for "the most absurdly ambiguous language".

> I often think of the Boost community as people who need to target multiple
> compilers/platforms. That might be wrong or too narrow. As far as Boost
> libraries are concerned, I think this is a non-issue. The code has to work
with
> various compilers either at their least common conforming level or at
various
> compiler specific alternatives. 

> I don't see how the flag actually could help unless
> you were developing only on MSVC and then trying to port to other
platforms.

But I think this is exactly what is true for many developers, so the earlier
the MS-only users get warning
that they are in MS-only-land the better.  I had hoped that /Za would
achieve this.
 
> > So unless there are other views, I propose to change the 'Dealing with
> > warnings guidelines' to warn that the option is 'definitely dodgy'.
> > (mainly by a link to this helpful post).
> >
> > Although /Za might help a little during development, loading and
> > testing on the trunk remains the definitive test of portability.

I am moving towards Michael's viewpoint, but

I'd like more views on this before I make a change.

Paul

---
Paul A. Bristow,
Prizet Farmhouse, Kendal LA8 8AB  UK
[phone]  07714330204
pbristow_at_[hidden]