Re: [boost] [Removing support for old compilers]

Subject: Re: [boost] [Removing support for old compilers]
From: Paul A. Bristow (pbristow_at_[hidden])
Date: 2014-01-14 05:22:07

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Boost [mailto:boost-bounces_at_[hidden]] On Behalf Of Adder
> Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 7:38 AM
> To: boost_at_[hidden]
> Subject: Re: [boost] [Removing support for old compilers]
> 
> On 1/13/14, Edward Diener <eldiener_at_[hidden]> wrote:
> > And after the trial versions run out, how do you propose to test these
> > compilers ?
> 
> I think that it might be possible for the command line tools (compiler, linker, etc.) (as opposed
to the IDE)
> to still work after the trial period ends.
> 
> > I worked with Borland C++ and C++ Builder (3,4,5,6) a number of years
> > ago. Given Borland's near total inability to fix longstanding bugs
> > over the years I will never work with Borland/Codegear tools again,
> > nor will I ever spend a nanosecond of time attempting to make any
> > library I create work with Borland/Codegear compilers. Microsoft may
> > be bad in the offhand way in which they refuse to fix or address C++
> > bugs which they have decided are not mainstream enough to spend time
> > on but Borland/Codegear was truly hopeless. Others can do whatever
> > they want of course but this is my own personal experience.
> 
> I respect that !
> 
> The part that is confusing for me is someone imposing that *no* authors should be able to use a
specific
> compiler with Boost even if they wanted to.
> 
> Which results in no users being able to use that compiler with the
> (updated) parts of Boost that otherwise happen to work, due to the library not relying on certain
> features or due to previous work or due to current work or due to miracles.
> 
> > I do not believe, as opposed to your own opinion, that implementors of
> > Boost libraries should spend unnecessary time trying to accomodate
> > ancient compilers. If the modern compilers are testable and have at
> > least adequate support, then I can understand trying to work with them.
> 
> I also do not believe that implementors should spend what they consider to be unnecessary time and
> effort on anything.

There may be nothing to stop antique compilers users from using new features - by extracting just
the new library code from a recent download and adding to your last working Boost version.

But more and more libraries will take advantage of and require newish and especially C++11 features
- and so just won't work.

All we are saying is "no guarantees - but good luck!".

Paul

---
Paul A. Bristow,
Prizet Farmhouse, Kendal LA8 8AB  UK
[phone]  07714330204
pbristow_at_[hidden]