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

From: Edward Diener (eddielee_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-07-01 19:53:07

Vladimir Prus wrote:
> 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. If the library does
> substantial work (e.g. HTTP library), it better be dynamic library,
> so that applications don't have include all the code. Of course, you
> might want static linking, but dynamic linking should be possible too.

One could quite easily provide separate libraries for different character
types, if a library was necessary in the first place.