Re: [Boost-users] [bimap] Review of the Bimap library begins today Feb 15

From: Gottlob Frege (gottlobfrege_at_[hidden])
Date: 2007-02-17 23:10:36

On 2/15/07, Ion Gaztañaga <igaztanaga_at_[hidden]> wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> The review of the proposed Boost Bimap library written by Matias
> Capeletto starts today (February 15th, 2007) and ends after 10 days
> (February 25, 2007).

 So far:

A: namespace:
---------------------

from the 'One Minute Tutorial':

       That is more or less all that is needed to start using the
bidirectional map.       The following two lines must also be added:

#include <boost/bimap/bimap.hpp>
using namespace bimap;

2 points:
- I prefer not to use 'using'.  I know I don't have to, but I don't
like that the docs imply that I do.
more importantly:
- is it going to be in 'bimap' or in 'boost'?

B: 'relation'
----------------

I think I understand the philosophical reasoning for preferring
'left/right' over 'first/second', and thus the impetuous for creating
'relation'.  However...

- I think 'relation' is too generic a word to abscond.
- how about:
   - couple
   - duo
   - or probably just 'bipair'
- or maybe even consider that std::pair, although not perfect, might
make things easier:
   - it can be used in other algorithms
   - it is already well known
   - the nature of typing code forces order - ie note that bimap<X, Y>
is different than bimap<Y, X> (although philosophically the same).
Even with 'left/right' you still have order - left corresponds to the
*first* type listed in the bimap, 'right' corresponds to the *second*
type passed in.  Or is it bimap<Right, Left>?  I don't think so.

But other than that, so far so good.  Looks like something I'd use.
And the docs are snazzy.

- Tony