Re: [boost] Interest in a simple buffer abstraction?

Subject: Re: [boost] Interest in a simple buffer abstraction?
From: Boris Kolpackov (boris_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-01-28 13:19:25

Hi Robert,

"Stewart, Robert" <Robert.Stewart_at_[hidden]> writes:

> Of course those are options, but then you're imposing a new container
> on clients of packet and on other libraries.
> 
> Consider some existing code that uses a std::vector<char>. You would
> require that it be changed to use your buffer type.

I think requiring users of your API to pass buffers as vector<char>
only is crazy. Any existing code that tries to be universally usable
will at least allow for the (void*, size_t) pair as the buffer
representation which will work just fine with the buffer abstraction
I am proposing.

> Does this make sense?

Yes, it does. We are trying to solve orthogonal problems here. I want a
simple and convenient buffer abstraction that will manage the memory for
me and provide a natural interface. You are trying to find a way to work
with various buffer representations (of which my buffer class is just one
instance) in a uniform way. You are viewing this from the library designer's
point of view ("How can I design my socket class so I don't have to deal
with all these different buffer representations?"). I am think from the
user's point of view ("What can I use to manage the buffer memory for
me and make my code succinct?").

Boris
-- 
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