A POSIX sub-group is looking at C++ bindings for POSIX. They are talking about a filesystem library binding at least loosely based on Boost.System, Boost.Filesystem, and C++ TR2. In looking at http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/papers/2009/n2838.html, "Library Support for Hybrid Error Handling (Rev 2)", they are concerned about specifying hybrid error handling like this: void f(error_code& ec=throws()); They would rather see it specified like this: void f(error_code* ec=0); One particular concern is that as currently worded, the N2838 proposal requires throws() return a null reference, which they see as relying on undefined behavior. I wasn't at the meeting where the LWG asked that a null reference be mandated; my reading of the standard is that it is unclear if returning a null reference is or isn't undefined behavior. Some of the core folks seem to think it is undefined, but compilers accept it. Although the reference form is usual for C++, the use of anything other than the default is limited, and usually in low-level code at that. Although I could personally live with either form, I'm leaning slightly toward the pointer form. Regardless, I'd like to hear Boosters views on the two interfaces above. Which do you prefer? Why? --Beman