Re: [boost] [Format] Making a change

Subject: Re: [boost] [Format] Making a change
From: Nathan Ridge (zeratul976_at_[hidden])
Date: 2012-02-14 22:27:15

> From: jeffrey.hellrung_at_[hidden]
>
> On Tue, Feb 14, 2012 at 4:18 AM, Olaf van der Spek <ml_at_[hidden]> wrote:
> [...]
>
> > > Unlike int vs. double, a formatting object and a string are NOT
> > conceptually the samething, so adding an implicit conversion would be bad.
> > (Actually, we should limit implicitconversions in general; so converting
> > weakly-connected types should definitely be out.)
> >
> > Why would that be bad? The conversion from format to string is well
> > defined and used (very) frequently. It's also cumbersome at the
> > moment.
> >
> > Compare:
> > 1: set(dict2, "link", (boost::format("../../?q=%s") % name).str());
> > 2: set(dict2, "link", boost::format("../../?q=%s") % name);
>
>
> I don't see a problem with 1. It makes your conversion intentions clear,
> and I don't find it onerous in the least.
>
> (My opinion, of course.)
>
> - Jeff

Upon some reflection, neither of these look natural to me.

What would look natural is the following, implemented using C++11 variadic
templates (and then the return value could be a string in the first place):

set(dict2, "link", boost::format("../../?q=%s", name));

Regards,
Nate