[boost] [locale] Off-list review of Boost.Locale library

Subject: [boost] [locale] Off-list review of Boost.Locale library
From: Chad Nelson (chad.thecomfychair_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-04-16 07:49:44

Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2011 15:40:53 +0400
From: <steve.bush_at_[hidden]>

--- What is your evaluation of the design?

Very good to start with since leveraging locale for i18n/l10n is a great
rallying point for developers.

Translate GETTEXT might be better in a separate library to increase
degrees of freedom and reduce coupling.

--- What is your evaluation of the implementation?

The wrapper/backend strategy provides immediate benefit while leaving
the door open to progressive reimplementation.

Since it is a wrapper, could PARTS of it be implemented as a header
only?

--- What is your evaluation of the documentation?

The documentation is more than good enough to start with considering
this library's potential usefulness.

--- What is your evaluation of the potential usefulness of the library?

This library is potentially *extremely* useful because it LEVERAGES an
important chunk of standard C++ that is sadly underutilised merely due
to a few design and implementation flaws.

This library has potential something of the order of Boost.FileSystem.

This is a VERY strategic library and any shortcomings will be resolved
with time.

--- Did you try to use the library? With what compiler? Did you have any
  problems?

Didn't try.

--- How much effort did you put into your evaluation? A glance? A quick
  reading? In-depth study?

I meticulously read all documentation several times.

--- Are you knowledgeable about the problem domain?

Yes, we have used similar technique for Exodus
http://devwiki.neosys.com and will replace those with Boost.Locale if
and when it becomes available.

--- Do you think the library should be accepted as a Boost library?

YES - It is relatively small but has a massive effect. It has a very low
cost/benefit ratio since it leverages long standing classic C++ locale
design/skills.