[Boost-users] Re: Feature request for boost::filesystem

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-07-01 11:23:52

Vladimir Prus <ghost_at_[hidden]> writes:

> Delfin Rillustration> So what I ask is a library that works everywhere, just
> like you say.
>> 
>> I understand your point about POSIX file systems but since the library is
>> compiled for Windows _or_ for POSIX systems I think it would be possible
>> to compile for single char strings or double byte strings (UTF16). Windows
>> systems solve this problem with the concept of TCHAR, a type that is
>> defined as a char or wchar_t depending on a preprocessor definition. Then,
>> boost::fylesystem::path could accept std::basic_string<TCHAR> instead of
>> std::basic_string<char>. That would solve the problem and everybody would
>> be happy ;)
>
> I'm very much opposed to the idea of having templated classes for unicode
> support.
>
> Let me explain. Suppose I write a library which does something with strings,
> paths, whatever in the interface. I have these choices:
>
> 1. Make the library interface templated.
> 2. Use narrow classes: e.g. string
> 3. Use wide classes: e.g. wstring
> 4. Have some class which works with ascii and unicode.
>
> The first approach is bad for code size reasons. 

It doesn't have to be.  There can be a library object with explicit
instantiations of the wide and narrow classes.

-- 
Dave Abrahams
Boost Consulting
http://www.boost-consulting.com