Re: [Boost-users] boost::any with const value types

Subject: Re: [Boost-users] boost::any with const value types
From: Gavin Lambert (gavinl_at_[hidden])
Date: 2016-07-07 19:31:39

On 8/07/2016 09:24, Steven Watanabe wrote:
>   Yes, this is by design.  The rule is that
> you can only get out the same type that you
> put in.  char * is not the same type as
> char const *.

It would be nice if it followed the implicit const rules, eg. such that 
if a "char *" is stored it would be possible to retrieve either a "char 
*" or a "char const *" from it.  (This is not currently the case, at 
least not in 1.55.)

The reverse must not be possible though -- if a "char const *" is stored 
then it must be illegal to retrieve a "char *" as this violates const 
correctness.

Although then I suppose it might raise arguments about implicit 
conversions as well (eg. storing short and fetching int), which are 
edging closer to a gray area, and which Boost.Any explicitly disavows.