----Original Message---- From: boost-bounces@lists.boost.org [mailto:boost-bounces@lists.boost.org] On Behalf Of Maarten Kronenburg Sent: 30 November 2006 12:09 To: boost@lists.boost.org Subject: Re: [boost] Yet another bignum type
In my opinion software design is not mathematical proof that one design is better than another, but there is the mathematical fact that the set of unsigned integers is a subset of the integers, and the set of modular integers is a subset of the integers.
But your classes do not represent the SET of integers and the SET of modular integers. They represent the FIELDS (you include the operators - and the class wouldn't be much use if they didn't. The modular integers do NOT form a sub-field of the integers, which is why you shouldn't use derivation to represent them.
The LWG would have to make a decision which design to prefer.
Yes. It is also true to say that even if there is /no/ competing proposal, they would have to make a decision if they liked the proposed design. My gut reaction is that you should be prepared for the LWG to be as negative as the boost community.