Geoffrey Romer said:
Failing that, anybody has any killer idea for GUI development that warrants new library? Why don't add Qt to the C++ standard?
No doubt, TrollTech has to make the money they deserve some way. They also give the stuff away to everybody that can accept GPL like terms.
What I wonder is if anybody with contacts in the standard process and/or to the compiler vendors have ever considered Vladimirs suggestion, and approached the Trolls about it? Maybe there is a business case in that for TrollTech. They could be the prime provider of a larger part of the standard library to a number of compilers.
Sorry, I'm not sure I understand. Are you suggesting that TrollTech could somehow be persuaded to make Qt available for free under a Boost-like license, or are you suggesting that it would be acceptable to make Qt a C++ standard under its current licensing scheme?
No, neighter. The challenge is really to define the syntax and semantics of a standard library. If this is somehow based on TrollTech's experience and the API of Qt, then TrollTech would find themselves in a strong position for providing commercial licensed libraries to those standard library providers selling commercially licensed C++ standard libraries. Also, the standard committee would have a working implementation to build their confidence in the design. That does not prevent anybody else from implementing a competing solution which they may give away for free or sell. So, TrollTech would have to accept that the API spec are in the public domain, hence it could be copied by anybody, even Bill Gates - for any purpose. Whether they are interested in that is impossible to say, but an approach from the standard committee would be taken seriously, I bet on that anyway. Not only for the possible business, but also since I know the Trolls wish for a strong future of the language they have committed themselves to. -- Bjørn