Re: [Boost-users] Header only libraries, why not all?

Subject: Re: [Boost-users] Header only libraries, why not all?
From: Mathias Gaunard (mathias.gaunard_at_[hidden])
Date: 2010-02-02 06:51:14

Sachin Garg wrote:
> Header-only libraries are great as that eliminates the need for
> building the libraries and then linking with them. But not all
> libraries in boost are header only, which is an inconvenience.
> 
> Is this only because of 'legacy', and with time all libraries will
> move towards being header only? Or is there some technical requirement
> due to which some libraries just can't ever be header-only?

Because putting all code in headers comes with a cost at compile-time, 
may create duplicates across translation units, and also prevents code 
sharing.