Re: [boost] Let's discuss dropping support for msvc <= 9.0 (2008), gcc < 4.6, clang < 3.4

Subject: Re: [boost] Let's discuss dropping support for msvc <= 9.0 (2008), gcc < 4.6, clang < 3.4
From: stefan (stefan_at_[hidden])
Date: 2018-12-12 19:01:57

On 2018-12-12 10:30 a.m., Robert Ramey via Boost wrote:
> On 12/12/18 6:53 AM, James E. King III via Boost wrote:
>> During the Boost 1.69.0 release there was a regression on Visual Studio
>> 2005 (msvc-8.0).  Microsoft ended support for msvc-8.0 on December 4,
>> 2016.  I was going to argue we let it happen, but it wasn't the right 
>> time
>> to discuss that sort of change.
>>
>> Boost has a very large compatibility matrix which increases the effort
>> required, and sometimes limits solutions development, to get out a 
>> quality
>> release.  The boost project as a whole agreed in summer 2018 that if
>> repository maintainers wanted to drop C++03 support per repository to 
>> make
>> substantial improvements or simplifications, or to ease maintenance then
>> they are able to do so.  *Folks who need support for older language 
>> levels
>> and older compilers can always download an older version of Boost.*
>>
> <snip>
>
> If we consider boost more of a federation of libraries rather than one 
> large "library", then we can just leave the decision of level of 
> support up to the lean maintainer.  Boost has required that libraries 
> support the latest C++ standard.  Anything other than that is 
> optional.  So I don't believe that this requires forming any consensus.

I agree. However, given that at present a lot of effort is put into 
testing Boost as a whole, I think it makes sense to ask whether this is 
a good point to drop testers running with obsoleted compiler versions.

Stefan

--
       ...ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin...