Re: [boost] [type_index] type names string cross-platformness

Subject: Re: [boost] [type_index] type names string cross-platformness
From: Andrey Semashev (andrey.semashev_at_[hidden])
Date: 2017-12-05 14:55:49

On 12/05/17 17:46, Damien Buhl via Boost wrote:
> Dear Boost,
> 
> MSVC differs from GCC & Clang in the way it present the pretty_name of a
> type_info within Type Index.
> 
> Indeed for the following type : struct why {};
> 
> Is presented as `struct why` while on GCC it is `why`.
> 
> Is there any reason why pretty_name wouldn't strip / add the information
> from one of the compiler in order to reach a cross-plaftorm string name
> of types ?
> 
> MSVC:http://rextester.com/QNMB58390 <http://rextester.com/QNMB58390>
> 
> GCC: http://coliru.stacked-crooked.com/a/1aa52003605d4936
> 
> Would such a patch to the library be possible & welcome ?
> Best regards,

I think any attempt to make the type names portable/compatible is futile 
and only adds overhead that is otherwise useless. IMHO, the library 
should return the name as the underlying compiler/ABI does, with no 
attempt to post-process it beyond demangling.