[boost] Removing auto_ptr/etc. from Boost

Subject: [boost] Removing auto_ptr/etc. from Boost
From: Stephan T. Lavavej (stl_at_[hidden])
Date: 2015-03-18 17:10:23

Hi Boost devs,

I need your help to get rid of auto_ptr forever.

I want to implement C++17's N4190 "Removing auto_ptr, random_shuffle(), And Old <functional> Stuff", although it's going to take a while. In VC 2015, the removal will be opt-in (requested via a macro; I've already checked this in). My plan is for the removal to be opt-out in the version after that, and unconditional in the version after that.

To achieve the opt-in removal, I've already eliminated the STL's internal dependencies on this stuff (nothing derives from unary_function/binary_function anymore, and shuffle() isn't directly implemented with random_shuffle() anymore). To prepare for the future of opt-out removal, I've also been removing usage from the compiler and other stuff. However, Boost is used in our tests in a number of places.

What I'd like to ask is for Boost to begin removing its usage of this stuff (unconditionally or for VC 2015+, your pick). According to my understanding, only unary_function/binary_function and auto_ptr are used extensively by Boost, with the other stuff being used rarely or not at all.

Thanks,
Stephan T. Lavavej
Senior Developer - Visual C++ Libraries