Robert Ramey wrote:
Joel de Guzman wrote:
* Un-reviewed implementation details of libraries have been placed in boost/detail if they need to be used by other libraries and a subdirectory of boost/<libraryname>/ otherwise. Their documented public components are placed in boost/detail and namespace boost::detail.
I think the current situation is a little problematic.
If there in boos/detail, presumable its because they might be useful accross more than one library. However,
There is no place for documentation of these things. So there is no guarenteed interface.
And of course no separate tests.
No guarentee that the interface won't change - after all its an implementation detail. So it can change without warning an break other libraries.
So, one has a lot of reservations about depending upon these modules. On the other hand, they have proved very useful so for the sake of expediency they're going to get used - leading to surprise breakages.
So I think those things that have been going to boost/detail should just go into boost / utility. Approval for this would be part of the review process for the library which needed them. I realise some might find this bothersome, but its much better the the current situation.
Good points. I for one have not placed anything in boost detail. I just based the text on current standard practice, but to be honest, I too don't like free for all additions into boost detail. It too has a big chance of pollution related problems as Boost grows even bigger. My opinion on this is to keep the boost/detail *solely* for core libraries use. For non-core libraries, it is always better to use boost/<library>/detail and boost::<library>::detail as many libraries are already doing. If they need to be used by other libraries, then my thinking is that they ought not to be in detail, but rather, hosted by a parent library, just like that suggested in the last item in the list of current "practices". Then, the natural place for its documentation is the host library (e.g. The proto docs are currently in xpressive, the pre-review of fusion was once in spirit). Regards, -- Joel de Guzman http://www.boost-consulting.com http://spirit.sf.net