Re: [boost] Assign V2 - first impression

Subject: Re: [boost] Assign V2 - first impression
From: Stewart, Robert (Robert.Stewart_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-06-24 09:08:51

er wrote:
>
> > I am sure that it is a powerful library, but I really have no
> > idea at all what is going on. I can't even parse the first
> > line as valid C++ in any way. You need better examples, and
> > also is that really the best way you could find to express
> > repeating?
>
> If I try to imagine what the interface would look like after
> taking into account some of the suggestions that were made, this
> sentence:
>
> "Create data elements by mapping 1, 10, 100, 1000 by function
> f, and insert each result in cont by invoking modifier
> push_front."

If I interpret that correctly, it would be clearer as:

"Create elements in cont, using push_front(), by calling f() 1, 10, 100, and 1000 times."

> translates to
>
> (
>     push_front<1>( cont ) % ( _data = f ) % ( _repeat = n )
> )( 1, 10, 100, 1000 );

Why the leading underscores on "_data" and "_repeat?"

> Questions :
> - is it more readable, now?
> - What if each example was preceded by its English equivalent.

Preceding each by a clear English equivalent is necessary.

Could that code be spelled like the following instead?

   push_front<1>(cont).from(f).repeated(1, 10, 100, 1000);

That is, instead of operator overloading, member functions would make things clearer and more succinct.  Is there more to the operator overloading than I know making the member function approach too restrictive?  What happens to your operator overloading approach when a using directive is not in force?  Does "_data" become "boost::assign::_data," for example?

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

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