Re: [boost] [General] Always treat std::strings as UTF-8

Subject: Re: [boost] [General] Always treat std::strings as UTF-8
From: Peter Dimov (pdimov_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-01-14 10:50:02

Dave Abrahams wrote:
> At Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:07:20 +0200,
> Peter Dimov wrote:
> >
> > Alexander Lamaison wrote:
> > > I'm opposed to this strategy simply because it differs from the way
> > > existing libraries treat narrow strings.
> >
> > It differs from them because it's right, and existing libraries are
> > wrong. Unfortunately, they'll continue being wrong for a long time,
> > because of this same argument.
>
> Does the "right" strategy come with some policies/practices that can
> allow it to coexist with the existing "wrong" libraries?  If so, I'm
> all +1 on it.

Unfortunately not. A library that requires its input paths to be UTF-8 
always gets bug reports from users who are accustomed to using another 
encoding for their narrow strings. There is plenty of precedent they can use 
to justify their complaint.