Jan Kybic <yg-boost-users@m.gmane.org> writes:
Regarding the preprocesor, I've had the idea once but I guess I don't have enough time to pursue it. I'm not sure but are you implying that you want to volunteer to write a Haskell preprocessor that emits FC++ code? Possibly using Spirit? That would be awesome!
I do not think it would be worthwhile to use Haskell as the input language of the preprocessor, because then you could just use the ghc Haskell compiler. Also, even though I quite like Haskell and I have been using it for some time, I found it a bit too lazy for the my applications involving large-scale numeric computing where efficiency and control over memory management is necessary. I found C++ to be a better language in that aspect.
Therefore, I propose to use the best from both worlds, the Haskell type system for defining function signatures and C++ for writing the function bodies. The first step could be just a very stupid preprocessor to save some typing. I do not really have a clear idea at the moment, it needs to be thought out well, it could be something as simple as:
@fun plus :: A a -> B b -> A result @{ @let c = a+b // type automatically deduced return static_cast<A>(c) ; @}
which would provide a polymorphic functor plus.
As for me volunteering to write the preprocessor, I am obviously tempted, but very busy at the moment and also I think it might be better to wait a month or two whether there is any outcome from the cross fertilization of Spirit/FC++/....
You guys oughta check out the Felix project: http://felix.sourceforge.net/ -- Dave Abrahams Boost Consulting www.boost-consulting.com