Re: [Boost-users] Getting started with Boost: what did you need to know?

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-02-03 16:45:47

Jim Douglas <jim_at_[hidden]> writes:

> David Abrahams wrote:
>> Jim Douglas <jim_at_[hidden]> writes:
>> Compared to many large-scale libraries, Boost is highly decoupled.
>
> Such as...?
>
>>>IMHO it is high time that someone produced a dependency graph, or each 
>>>library document had a "uses" section.
>> 
>> Do you know about http://www.boost.org/tools/bcp/bcp.html and its
>> --report option?
>
> I am aware of it, but the output is not very user friendly 

I agree with that.  John, do you think it would be possible to
generate a simple list of boost library dependencies, e.g.

   parameter depends on mpl, type_traits, config, utility, and preprocessor

> and AFAIK you 
> cannot decouple the test functions to show what is required for "normal" 
> use.

I don't know what you mean there about the "test functions"

>>>The ultimate solution would be to have a problem oriented section in the 
>>>docs, i.e. if you are trying to do this, then we suggest you try these 
>>>libraries. If we assume that each library was constructed in order to 
>>>fill a need and/or solve a problem (and not just for intellectual 
>>>amusement) then these needs/problems could be collated into a single 
>>>section.
>> 
>> 
>> Yeah... some libraries are so general-purpose (e.g. lambda, mpl,
>> preprocessor) that it's hard for me to say anything that most people
>> will identify as their use case.
>
> Does *anyone* use them?

Yes, many people use them.

>> But if you could be more specific -- i.e. write some of it -- then
>> maybe the rest of us could pick up on what you're doing and see how it
>> would work.
>
> Hmm. I'll think about that - after 1.34 is released :-)

Hehehe.

>>>4. The single word naming of the libraries can lead to ambiguities and 
>>>misunderstanding e.g. "serialization" means different things to 
>>>different people and requires a full paragraph to explain, and IMHO 
>>>"thread" is somewhat misleading. Other names mean nothing to me so I 
>>>have to go and look them up.
>> 
>> 
>> What would be better, "the boost serialization of a style espoused by
>> Robert Ramey library?" ;-)
>> 
>
> LOL. But I think you get what I mean.

Really, I don't.

-- 
Dave Abrahams
Boost Consulting
www.boost-consulting.com