"JOAQUIN LOPEZ MU?Z" <joaquin@tid.es> writes:
----- Mensaje original ----- De: Robert Ramey <ramey@rrsd.com> Fecha: Viernes, Abril 15, 2005 6:05 pm Asunto: [boost] Re: Boost to the rescue
I'm amazed to discover that in only ONE single case have any of the programmers, managers, etc ever even heard of boost. This group even includes an ex head of the computer science department at a top tier university !!!
Speaking of which, I've got the nasty feeling that a good portion of the C++ programming community have heard of Boost but don't use it because:
1. It's too big. 2. It's too hard to install. 3. The docs are too technical. 4. They fear it's too "advanced" for them to understand it.
I've actually read comments on programmer sites touching on every one of these issues. My opinion is that:
* #1 is not that much of an issue in a world where people are happy to install a multimegabyte IDE and don't complain about it. When it comes to installing a library, somehow they measure size by a different standard.
I think they worry about interactions and "just how much foreign code am I using, anyway?" It's a perception thing, and it needs to be addressed.
* #2 is certainly a point, specially for Windows folks used to doubleclick on everything. Maybe it'd be a good idea to produce some graphical wizards (not necessarily as an official part of Boost) that automate the installation for at least the most commonly used platforms (read MS.) IMHO this would lower the entry barrier a lot.
Absolutely.
* As for #3 and #4, I've got this idea round my head that Boost would benefit of a "community site" where people of various expertise levels could mingle together, post Boost-related articles, etc. Something like CodeProject or Gamedev, which have a less intimidating appearance than www.boost.org. Some months ago I asked for a Boost-related forum in CodeProject, to no avail :(
Something wrong with boost-users? If so, I'd be happy to set up a forum at boost-consulting.com, if we can decide on the right software. -- Dave Abrahams Boost Consulting www.boost-consulting.com