Re: [Boost-users] [serialization]

From: Daryle Walker (darylew_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-11-17 06:08:01

On 11/13/05 10:01 AM, "David Abrahams" <dave_at_[hidden]> wrote:

> Daryle Walker <darylew_at_[hidden]> writes:
> 
>> Reading from an uninitialized variable, like what could happen in the
>> original case during encoding, is not a problem any library can fix.  The
>> programmer just has to be non-sloppy.
> 
> I buy Robert's argument that, in the case of bool, the assertion will
> often help him diagnose the problem and help his users when they
> complain that the library isn't working because they forgot to
> initialize something.
[TRUNCATE]

Since Robert's test involves undefined behavior, it's not portable.  The
assert may work on his system but may crash & burn on a different
environment.  The assert didn't help the second user at all.  And what
happens if the uninitialized variable just happens to match a valid state?

-- 
Daryle Walker
Mac, Internet, and Video Game Junkie
darylew AT hotmail DOT com