Re: [boost] [xint] Boost.XInt formal review (Chad Nelson)

Subject: Re: [boost] [xint] Boost.XInt formal review (Chad Nelson)
From: Stewart, Robert (Robert.Stewart_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-03-07 13:13:02

Chad Nelson wrote:
> "Stewart, Robert" <Robert.Stewart_at_[hidden]> wrote:
>
> > For example, on the "fast" part, if you had said that
> > portability was your first priority, but that speed was a
> > close second, you would have gained your point without the
> > negative backlash that ensued.
>
> Which is confusing to me, because to my eyes, it's merely a
> rephrasing of what's already there. One that fails to convey
> the enthusiasm I felt at the time, and still do to a lesser
> extent.

Of course I'm just rephrasing, but the result is different.  Your version is to say that the library "is fast."  Fast isn't an objective criteria, so the reader will ask, "Relative to what?"  Since you don't specify the point of comparison and provide no benchmarks to explain, the reader then is free to suppose any point of comparison of their choosing.

In my version, the statement is that speed is an important goal.  How well you met that goal, how much it suffered due to portability being more important, etc., is left unspecified.  That leaves the reader with a "warm fuzzy feeling" that you thought performance was important, but no room to infer their own point of comparison.

My version may not reveal your enthusiasm as obviously, but it comes close I think.

_____
Rob Stewart                           robert.stewart_at_[hidden]
Software Engineer, Core Software      using std::disclaimer;
Susquehanna International Group, LLP  http://www.sig.com

IMPORTANT: The information contained in this email and/or its attachments is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by reply and immediately delete this message and all its attachments. Any review, use, reproduction, disclosure or dissemination of this message or any attachment by an unintended recipient is strictly prohibited. Neither this message nor any attachment is intended as or should be construed as an offer, solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any security or other financial instrument. Neither the sender, his or her employer nor any of their respective affiliates makes any warranties as to the completeness or accuracy of any of the information contained herein or that this message or any of its attachments is free of viruses.