[Boost-users] [Review] Named Parameters library (ongoing)

From: Doug Gregor (dgregor_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-11-22 09:08:13

Today is the last day of the review of the Named Parameters library by 
David Abrahams and Daniel Wallin. Let's hear some more comments! The 
original announcement follows:

The Named Parameters library provides a framework for writing functions 
that can accept arguments by name  or by position. The use of named 
parameters can improve the readability of calls to these functions, 
especially when the functions have many parameters with default values. 
The Named Parameters library allows one to write a new_window function 
that allows a call such as:

         window* w = new_window("alert2", movable = true);

The library is available in the Boost sandbox here:

        boost/named_params.hpp
        libs/utility

And in the files area (login required):

        http://groups.yahoo.com/group/boost/files/named_params.zip

Reviewers may wish to compare this solution to the named parameters 
already used by the Boost Graph Library, documented here:

        http://www.boost.org/libs/graph/doc/bgl_named_params.html

Please send your reviews either to the Boost list or to me personally. 
The former is preferred, because it allows the community to consider 
your review as well. When writing your review, you may wish to consider 
the following questions (from 
http://www.boost.org/more/formal_review_process.htm#Comments)

        - What is your evaluation of the design?
        - What is your evaluation of the implementation?
        - What is your evaluation of the documentation?
        - What is your evaluation of the potential usefulness of the  library?
        - Did you try to use the library?  With what compiler?  Did  you have 
any problems?
        - How much effort did you put into your evaluation? A glance? A quick  
reading? In-depth study?
        - Are you knowledgeable about the problem domain?

As always, please remember to clearly state whether you believe the 
library should be accepted into Boost.

        Thank you
        Doug Gregor
        Review Manager, Named Parameters library