[boost] [general] Preventing compiler ABI clashes

Subject: [boost] [general] Preventing compiler ABI clashes
From: Vicente J. Botet Escriba (vicente.botet_at_[hidden])
Date: 2012-05-12 09:00:28

Hi,

After some exchanges with Anthony, I have recently reread 
http://www.boost.org/development/separate_compilation.html#abi and I 
suspect that I'm not the single one that misunderstood the context of 
this protocol.

As noted in

          "Counter Argument #2:

Prefix/suffix headers have a tendency to "spread" to other boost 
libraries - for example if boost::shared_ptr<> forms part of your 
class's ABI, then including prefix/suffix headers in your code will be 
of no use unless shared_ptr.hpp also uses them. Authors of header-only 
boost libraries may not be so keen on this solution - with some 
justification - since they don't face the same problem.
"

even header-only libraries should use this protocol if other not-header 
only libraries must conform to it.

Shouldn't every Boost library use this protocol? Or at least, allows the 
user to enable it?

What about adding an attribute (ABI Clash Protected) to the library 
documentation stating if a library supports this protocol?

Is there a way to check if a library supports this protocol completely?

Best,
Vicente