Re: [boost] lhs/rhs ([Review] Type Traits Extension ending tomorrow)

Subject: Re: [boost] lhs/rhs ([Review] Type Traits Extension ending tomorrow)
From: Joachim Faulhaber (afojgo_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-03-21 19:36:58

2011/3/21 Dave Abrahams <dave_at_[hidden]>:
> On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 6:10 AM, Robert Jones <robertgbjones_at_[hidden]> wrote:
>>>
>>> On Mar 21, 2011, at 4:52 AM, Max Sobolev wrote:
>>
>>>
>> On 21.03.2011 13:43, Joachim Faulhaber wrote:
>>>
>>>> (1) Template parameter Identifiers are lower case except for the first
>>>>
>>>>> letter. This is official boost policy. Only BOOST_MACROS are
>>>>
>>>>> completely upper case. So:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> template<class Left, class Right, class Result>   instead of
>>>> template<class LHS, class RHS, class RET>  Abbrs. are dscrgd. ;)
>>>>
>>>
>>> agree.
>>>
>>>>
>>> I /hate/ lhs/rhs identifiers :( (despite my respect to people that use it
>>> (Scott Meyers etc.) :))
>>>
>>
>> How curious... despite all their demonstrable short comings (similarity,
>> redundancy, etc), I think
>> that pair of identifiers are some of the best, most instantly recognisable
>> and understandable identifiers
>> ever coined!
>
> +1.
>
>> Each to their own I guess.
>
> I would go further: it's a mistake to break with a well-established
> convention that works just on principle.  The chance that your
> alternative will work better in practice is extremely low.

My original point was not about lhs/rhs love or hate but about boost
naming conventions on template parameters, which I think are well
established in boost libraries.

This from
http://www.boost.org/development/requirements.html#Naming_consistency

Use the naming conventions of the C++ Standard Library (See Naming
conventions rationale):
* Names (except as noted below) should be all lowercase, with words
separated by underscores.
* Template parameter names begin with an uppercase letter.
* Macro (gasp!) names all uppercase and begin with BOOST_.

As for LHS/RHS usage as template parameters in current boost libraries
a grep on trunk/boost shows

'LHS' is used on 5 lines
'Lhs' is used on 10 lines
'Left' is used on 297 lines

The boost web page says in addition:

* Once a library settles on a particular convention, a vast majority
of stakeholders want that style to be consistently used.

that's what I hope for ;)

Regards,
Joachim

-- 
Interval Container Library [Boost.Icl]
http://www.joachim-faulhaber.de