Re: [boost] Boost and exceptions

Subject: Re: [boost] Boost and exceptions
From: Daniel James (dnljms_at_[hidden])
Date: 2012-06-19 15:20:01

On 19 June 2012 18:11, Robert Ramey <ramey_at_[hidden]> wrote:
>
> According to
> http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_49_0/libs/config/doc/html/boost_config/boost_macro_reference.html#boost_config.boost_macro_reference.macros_that_describe_c__03_defects
>
> "The compiler does not support exception handling (this setting is typically
> required by many C++ compilers for embedded platforms). Note that there is
> no requirement for boost libraries to honor this configuration setting -
> indeed doing so may be impossible in some cases. Those libraries that do
> honor this will typically abort if a critical error occurs - you have been
> warned!"
>
> a) This definition is in the current and all past documentation and should
> be respected by all code
> which uses the macro BOOST_NO_EXCEPTIONS

>From http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_31_0/libs/utility/throw_exception.html

"It is intended to be used in Boost libraries that need to throw
exceptions, but support configurations and platforms where exceptions
aren't available, as indicated by the presence of the
BOOST_NO_EXCEPTIONS configuration macro."

Suggests that the config documentation isn't in line with how it's
been used for the past nine years.

> b) boost::throw_exception should be rolled back to it's orginal meaning.
>
> Reason:The problem here is that using something from the main boost
> namespace creates
> and unexpected and hidden dependency on another library.  This occcurs
> without the library
> user getting notified at all.  Much care has been expended so that those
> things directly inside
> the boost namespace (excluding convenience headers) be things which DO NOT
> create
> dependencies on other libraries.  The current definition of
> boost::throw_exception is the only
> exception to this.

That's an odd claim to make. Look at: boost::any, boost::array,
boost::bimap etc.