Hello, I have written for the need of a coworker a function template that computes the compile-time power of a base that is known only at runtime. The original need was just to avoid having to write things like "value*value*value*value*value". Before doing this, I've been searching for such a thing in the Boost documentation and mailing lists, but could only find discussions about an entierely compile-time version (compile-time exponent of compile-time base) intended for use in metaprograms. Is there any reason why the "semi-compile-time" version I describe here hasn't been discussed? Even though it can be viewed as a mere syntactic sugar, it can be very practical when it comes to write by hand a power with a big exponent. In case of interest, here is my code : template <int N> struct positive_power { template <typename T> static float result(T base) { return base*positive_power<N-1>::result(base); } }; template <> struct positive_power<0> { template <typename T> static float result(T) { return 1; } }; template <int N, bool> struct power_if_positive { template <typename T> static float result(T base) { return positive_power<N>::result(base); } }; template <int N> struct power_if_positive<N, false> { template <typename T> static float result(T base) { return 1/positive_power<-N>::result(base); } }; template <int N, typename T> float power(T base) { return power_if_positive < N, boost::mpl::greater_equal < boost::mpl::int_<N>, boost::mpl::int_<0> >::type::value >::result(base); } It supports positive, null and negative integer exponents. Some improvements can surely be done, like allowing to specify the desired return type. Examples of use : power<3>(myValue); power<0>(myValue); power<-5>(myValue); Thanks Bruno