Boost MySQL Review Is In Progress

From: Richard Hodges (hodges.r_at_[hidden])
Date: 2022-05-14 08:58:29

Dear All,

We've had a good response for calls to review this much anticipated
library, and there is a lot of interest on Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/cpp/comments/unik91/acceptance_review_for_boostmysql_has_just_started/
.

In general the public perception of utility libraries like this in Boost
seems popular, and Boost's emphasis on quality is often mentioned.

If you are able, I would be more than grateful if you could take a few
hours over this delightful weekend to offer a review. The more eyes on this
project the better, as if it is successful, it will no doubt prompt
submission of similar libraries targeting other popular database and
messaging systems.

The Boost formal review of the MySQL library started on May 10th, 2022 and
will conclude on May 19th, 2022 (inclusive) - In fact, I am able to accept
submissions up until the (GMT) morning of May 20th as I'll be traveling on
May19th.

The library is authored by Rubén Pérez Hidalgo (@anarthal in the CppLang
slack).

Documentation: https://anarthal.github.io/mysql/index.html
Source: https://github.com/anarthal/mysql/

The library is built on the bedrock of Boost.Asio and provides both
synchronous and asynchronous client connectors for the MySQL database
system.

Boost.MySQL is written from the ground up, implementing the entire protocol
with no external dependencies beyond the Boost library.
It is compatible with MariaDB.

Connectivity options include TCP, SSL and Unix Sockets.

For async interfaces, examples in the documentation demonstrate full
compatibility with all Asio completion handler styles, including:

Callbacks:-
https://anarthal.github.io/mysql/mysql/examples/query_async_callbacks.html

Futures :-
https://anarthal.github.io/mysql/mysql/examples/query_async_futures.html

Boost.Coroutine :-
https://anarthal.github.io/mysql/mysql/examples/query_async_coroutines.html

C++20 Coroutines :-
https://anarthal.github.io/mysql/mysql/examples/query_async_coroutinescpp20.html

Rubén has also implemented the Asio protocols for deducing default
completion token types :-
https://anarthal.github.io/mysql/mysql/examples/default_completion_tokens.html

Reviewing a database connector in depth will require setting up an instance
of a MySQL database. Fortunately most (all?) Linux distributions carry a
MySQL and/or MariaDB package. MySQL community edition is available for
download on all platforms here:
https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/

Rubén has spent quite some time in order to bring us this library
candidate. The development process has no doubt been a journey of discovery
into Asio, its concepts and inner workings. I am sure he has become a fount
of knowledge along the way.

>From a personal perspective, I was very happy to be asked to manage this
review. I hope it will be the first of many more reviews of libraries that
tackle business connectivity problems without further dependencies beyond
Boost, arguably one of the most trusted foundation libraries available.

Please provide in your review information you think is valuable to
understand your choice to ACCEPT or REJECT including Describe as a
Boost library. Please be explicit about your decision (ACCEPT or REJECT).

Some other questions you might want to consider answering:

  - Will the library bring additional out-of-the-box utility to Boost?
  - What is your evaluation of the implementation?
  - What is your evaluation of the documentation?
  - Will the choice of API abstraction model ease the development of
software that must talk to a MySQL database?
  - Are there any immediate improvements that could be made after
acceptance, if acceptance should happen?
  - Did you try to use the library? With which compiler(s)? Did you
    have any problems?
  - How much effort did you put into your evaluation? A glance? A quick
    reading? In-depth study?
  - Are you knowledgeable about the problem domain?

More information about the Boost Formal Review Process can be found
at: http://www.boost.org/community/reviews.html

The review is open to anyone who is prepared to put in the work of
evaluating and reviewing the library. Prior experience in
contributing to Boost reviews is not a requirement.

Thank you for your efforts in the Boost community. They are very much
appreciated.

Richard Hodges
- review manager of the proposed Boost.MySQL library

Rubén is often available on CppLang Slack and of course by email should you
require any clarification not covered by the documentation, as am I.

-- 
Richard Hodges
hodges.r_at_[hidden]
office: [phone]
home: [phone]
mobile: [phone]