Re: [boost] Library devs only: Boost v2.x distro design questions

Subject: Re: [boost] Library devs only: Boost v2.x distro design questions
From: Robert Ramey (ramey_at_[hidden])
Date: 2018-10-25 01:49:00

On 10/24/18 6:31 PM, Robert Ramey via Boost wrote:

My real point here Nail is that you're conflating two separate issues. 
Library development, design, and maintenance with library deployment.

You could relatively easily deploy a "closed" subset of boost which was 
"cleaner" or simpler, or whatever just by selection.  It would achieve 
everything you've wanted to achieve:

a) exclude libraries no longer maintained.
b) exclude libraries which are not compatible with newer libraries (I 
don't think any of these exist)
c) exclude libraries which do not provide, in your humble opinion, any 
useful functionality.

Think bigger.  You could create a special deployment of Boost for 
students which would a closed subset which one could start to use much 
faster than being confronted with the whole of boost and standard library.

Think bigger yet.  Create a deployment for beginners in C++.  Call it: 
"Boost for Dummies"

This may sound funny, but I don't mean it to be.  I see the idea of 
creating "curated" Boost/C++ deployment as being a really useful and 
valuable idea which doesn't require that all the boost "cats" to be 
harnessed to the "next big thing" which ain't going to happen.

This single most valuable step to this goal would be to cajole the 
maintainers of the libraries to create documents in BoostBook if they 
don't already.  I don't know how many are left.  But that "Might" and 
the one's that aren't are likely so old you wouldn't want them in your 
"Boost for Dummies" anyway.  Boost book can be rendered with great 
flexibility and it would be possible to craft a beautiful publication 
quality book that would be really useful to a lot of people.  I can see 
it now:

C++/Boost for Dummies
by
Nial Douglas - Principle Architect of Boost.

So I think I see where you're trying to go with this.  And I see the 
merit in it. But if you approached in the way I suggest, I think it 
might be more likely to get you what you might be seeking.

Robert Ramey