Re: [boost] Any interest in bitstream class?

Subject: Re: [boost] Any interest in bitstream class?
From: Adam Wulkiewicz (adam.wulkiewicz_at_[hidden])
Date: 2013-06-30 08:50:20

Paul Long wrote:
>
>> It could also support some non-C++ formats like 16-bit half precision
>> or 128-bit quad precision floats. Some typedefs would probably be
>> required in namespace boost::bitstream.
>
> Okay, sure. BTW, ibitstream consumers can easily support new types by
> overloading operator>>. For example, this is how bool is supported:
>
> ibitstream &operator>>(ibitstream &ibs, bool &b)
> {
>      bitfield value;
>      ibs.read(value, 1);
>      b = value != 0;
>
>      return ibs;
> }
>

Ok, however those would only apply for C++-like types. What if we have 
some file which stores 16-bit floats or floats with different radix than 
the native one, or even in some other standard? And this is jus a tip of 
an iceberg. There is a lot of different ways to describe similar types 
to C++ native types. Should the user be forced to e.g. wrap native types 
and write overloads? Should those different formats be supported by 
bitstream somehow (e.g. by predefined wrappers)? And who should define 
how those types in stored and native format should be converted between 
each other?

Regards,
Adam