Re: [epochs] Proposal for an epoch-based organization of Boost libraries

From: Joaquin M López Muñoz (joaquinlopezmunoz_at_[hidden])
Date: 2020-05-26 14:20:00

El 25/05/2020 a las 21:32, Edward Diener via Boost escribió:
> On 5/25/2020 12:38 PM, Joaquin M López Muñoz via Boost wrote:
>> El 25/05/2020 a las 14:06, Andrey Semashev via Boost escribió:
>>> Maintaining backward compatibility and using Boost.MPL because of 
>>> that is another, and it must be as viable option as others.
>>
>>
>> It's a viable option, but then the lib won't get into Boost11, unless 
>> Boost.MPL inclusion
>> is conditional on BOOST_ASSUME_CXX. Not being in epoch Boost11 does 
>> not mean the lib
>> can't be actively maintained and work in C++11 and later (which is 
>> mostly the case for
>> C++03-compatible code).
>
> I think you need to explain in your document that the criteria for a 
> library to be in an Epoch level of
> c++11 on up is that the library depends on a C++ standard library 
> rather than its Boost equivalent in
> any cases where this dependency might exist, as well as the fact that 
> the library depends on other
> Boost libraries, in any cases where this dependency might exist, which 
> themselves follow the C++ standard
> versus Boost library criteria. I personally would support such an idea 
> for Epocjs. But I would want the
> decision based on the Epoch to which a library may belong to be solely 
> based on this objective criteria,
> and not on any subjective idea of what constitutes a C++nn library or 
> not.

Yes, in the context of the proposal you're referring to so-called 
"rejection rule 2", which is practically
custom-made for the case of Boost.MPL. I personally find that this lib, 
which was a breakthrough back in
the day, now it's too much of a burden in non-C++03 environments, given 
the much lighter alternatives.

If epochs were ever a reality, I'd vote for deferring the exact decision 
on which "core" libraries promote
to one central authority (the BSC, most likely), because there'd be 
controversy one way or another. This
is just speculation right now, though.

Joaquín M López Muñoz