Re: Boost Libraries and Dropping C++ Language Support

From: Emil Dotchevski (emildotchevski_at_[hidden])
Date: 2023-02-23 01:40:48

Thank you Glen, this is good news for everyone involved.

On Wed, Feb 22, 2023 at 3:11 PM Glen Fernandes via Boost-users <
boost-users_at_[hidden]> wrote:

>
> *Boost library authors and maintainers are free to drop support for old
> C++ standards in their libraries, at any time. *
> This includes libraries that other Boost libraries depend on. It even
> includes core libraries like Boost.Core or Boost.Static_Assert.
>
> We ask that maintainers do the right thing by all our users (which may
> include other Boost libraries) by announcing a future breakage *at least
> two Boost releases in advance*.
>
> When that eventual release time arrives, if Boost libraries are broken in
> older standards modes due to another Boost library dropping support, it
> will not block the Boost release.
>
> This means that we do not need to announce "Boost is dropping C++03"
> because Boost doesn't "support C++03" now as it is.
>
> It means that you, maintainer of Boost.X, should realize that you are free
> to announce that "Boost.X is dropping C++XY in version 1.Z" as you see fit.
>
> Boost in its infancy thrived because its libraries were on the cutting
> edge. Boost libraries today should similarly not be confined simply because
> other Boost libraries have chosen to depend on them.
>
> Furthermore, as Boost release managers we support authors exercising this
> freedom, and do not intend to impose any restrictions on what language
> support they must maintain.
>
> We will add a page to the Boost website stating the above formally.
>
> -- The release team (Glen Fernandes, Marshall Clow)
>
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