On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 12:26 PM, Andrey Semashev <andrey.semashev@gmail.com> wrote:
You can convert different things to string using to_string. You can convert different things from strings using from_string.
My question is, what is the motivation for the convert function? What's the use case for it that doesn't work with to_string/from_string?
There isn't any particular case for using the "convert" naming. As there isn't one for "to_string/from_string".
The issue is not just naming and syntax. The two approaches are: 1) Define a "to_string" interface and a separate, independent "from_string" interface 2) Define a single interface that can go to and from string The second approach introduces coupling between to_string and from_string. This coupling must be justified, you need to get something in return. The only "something" I see here is that it lets you write code which doesn't "know" if it's going "to" or "from" string. My problem is that I can't think of a case when I would be writing code that doesn't "know" if it is going "to" or "from" string. Can you? Emil Dotchevski Reverge Studios, Inc. http://www.revergestudios.com/reblog/index.php?n=ReCode