Re: [Boost-build] [future] Implementation language(s)..

Subject: Re: [Boost-build] [future] Implementation language(s)..
From: Vladimir Prus (vladimir.prus_at_[hidden])
Date: 2016-10-25 14:51:41

Paul,

On 25-Oct-16 7:36 PM, Paul A. Bristow wrote:

>> http://boostorg.github.io/python/doc/html/article.html#thinking-hybrid
>
> I've been watching this conversation with interest (and am impressed by your enthusiasm).
>
> Before you go too far down the using Python route, may I be so bold as to ask if are you quite sure that you can't do the whole task
> in C++?
>
> Every extra tool and plugin adds complexity - and loses you users, some before they start, and potentially many more when it doesn't
> 'just work'.
>
> Do you *really, really* need Python?

Yes, I think so. Admittedly, a fair portion of 'build core' could be
written in C++. But:

- Faster turnaround is very good for productivity, and C++ is still slow
   to compile.
- For parts outside of "core", having them in C++ would require
   complicated dynamic loading on top of C++ compilation
- Python is both reasonably typed language and sufficiently high-level
- There's a wide selection of modules, which is handy both for core 
developers and anybody writing extensions. Say, you want to get json
over HTTP? Few lines of code in Python, much more complexity in C++.

-- 
Vladimir Prus
https://vladimirprus.com