Re: [boost] Process discussions

Subject: Re: [boost] Process discussions
From: Stefan Seefeld (seefeld_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-02-01 18:38:03

On 2011-01-31 08:05, Paul A. Bristow wrote:
>
> I am also puzzled at the number of support requests which start with "I'm
> using Boost 1.3x".
> Should we not be saying "If you are more than n (=2?) releases behind -
> Tough! Upgrade before you as again!")

That drags in yet another point that was already discussed many times 
over recent years:

As long as the boost community makes it so hard for users to upgrade, I 
think it is very much to be expected that people pick a release, adjust 
their own platform to it, and then stay with it until they absolutely 
have to upgrade.

The point I'm driving at here is API and ABI compatibility. Without 
that, two distinct boost releases have to be considered as two mostly 
unrelated products, at least in environments with strict testing and 
validation rules.

I don't think this is the right context to discuss this controversial 
topic, but questions such as yours seem to suggest a lack of awareness 
for this kind of needs.

I understand that for developers it's more convenient to always focus on 
new features, instead of backward compatibility, and I'm not bringing 
the topic up to judge. I'm just trying to raise awareness for these 
concerns.

FWIW,
         Stefan

-- 
       ...ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin...