Tribute to John Kalb

From: Robert Ramey (ramey_at_[hidden])
Date: 2022-12-27 01:07:53

It's the end of 2022.  I wanted to take a moment to recognize the 
contributions to Boost over the last dozen years or so by Jon Kalb.

I first met Jon at a Microsoft Meeting named "Going Native" which was 
promoting a "resurgence" of C++ over Languages like Java and C#.  It 
seems that this was related to the C++ committee incorporating large 
parts of Boost into the standard library and Microsofts renewed 
commitment to C++.  This is my take, I'm sure someone else could provide 
more details on this.  My view that was that there wasn't much more for 
Boost to do.  Dave Abrahams was moving on to bigger things which 
reinforced this impression.

Jon was enthusiastic about taking the lead on Boost.  It was clear that 
he and I had a different visions.  I sort of cringed - it looked to me 
like he got suckered. He asked me if I planned to attend C++Now - I 
weaseled out of actually answering.

Of course he turned out to be right and I was wrong.  The C++ committee 
hasn't really been able to replace Boost. It's too slow and cumbersome. 
Working as a design committee isolated from actual implementation 
doesn't seem to conducive to designing good, clean, elegant software. 
And it takes forever.  It's odd to me that the committee adopted a large 
part of Boost software, but failed to learn anything from Boost about 
how to make this kind of stuff.

So in this environment Jon led Boost.  He worked from top to bottom on 
all the stuff that needs to be done - finances, legal, C++Now planning, 
recruitment of collaborators,  etcetra .  Very successful and, like many 
successful people, made it look easy.  Hence he has not been appreciated 
to the extent he should be.

Now he as moved on from Boost - he will be missed.  Apparently this was 
in the works for some time but was pushed along by complaint about his 
handling about an alleged code of conduct violation which in my view was 
blown way out of proportion.  I think the Boost BOD has treated Jon 
shabbily regarding this incident.  My aim here is to correct that.
Boost has had a large role in saving C++ from decline into obscurity. 
David Abrahams and Beman Dawes were the primary promoters at Boost at 
it's start.  I don't think it's too much to say that these two persons 
saved C++.  To this list, I'd like to add the name of Jon Kalb, without 
whom Boost would likely have wound down with C++11.

-- 
Robert Ramey
www.rrsd.com
[phone]