Re: [boost] [Review] Type Traits Extension by Frederic Bron - Review summary and decision

Subject: Re: [boost] [Review] Type Traits Extension by Frederic Bron - Review summary and decision
From: Simonson, Lucanus J (lucanus.j.simonson_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-04-21 12:52:55

Joachim Faulhaber wrote:
> Yeah, and global naming consistency is not a matter of personal taste
> but a matter of  transpersonal beauty,
> (1) the beauty of simplicity and uniqueness
> (2) the beauty of a large group of people agreeing in an evolutionary
> process of convergence.

I agree that naming consistency is not a matter of taste, but you could have supported that point better.  Naming consistency is of practical value because of "Usability: Memorability. Ease of refactoring via textual substitution. Perception of reoccurring patterns".  Naming consistency makes the library easier to use in the larger context of boost, the language and the standard library.  Ease of use is not a matter of taste and is a very important consideration for library design.  If taste is at odds with ease of use considerations ease of use should always win.  People can disagree on how much naming consistency helps ease of use in this case, but calling that concern a matter of taste is just wrong.  Boost libraries are frequently hard to use, the so called "expert friendly" characteristic.  We should make extra effort to design for ease of use.

Luke