Re: quadmath as distinct library?

From: John Maddock (jz.maddock_at_[hidden])
Date: 2023-03-13 12:24:02

On 13/03/2023 02:43, Gero Peterhoff via Boost wrote:
> Hello,
> * problem description
> In boost::math::cstdfloat AND boost::multiprecision::float128 
> identical functions for __float128 (quadmath) are provided.
>
> This is unnecessary overhead. I think it would make sense to "pull 
> out" the quadmath library as a distinct library. I did this once 
> canonically, but it doesn't work yet because 
> boost::math::cstdfloat/boost::multiprecision::float128 have to be 
> adapted for this. This is a prototype where there is still a lot of 
> work to be done. But the beginning is done.
If you mean 
https://github.com/boostorg/multiprecision/blob/develop/include/boost/multiprecision/detail/float128_functions.hpp 
then it's a trivially small header, and spinning stuff out into a 
separate library has a significant maintenance overhead.
>
> Would it also make sense to "pull out" quaternion and octonion as 
> distinct libraries?

Historically these were separate libraries, and were unmaintained.  
Moving them under the Boost.Math "umbrella" means that they do at least 
get minimal maintenance now.  Again, splitting stuff out has a non-zero 
overhead.

John.