convert::to<wstring>
Why not just convert_to<wstring>?
Is the problem with convert by itself that it leaves the reader worrying about 'to' and/or 'from'?
- leaving one feeling 'what?'
Direction matters.
Yes, once I got comfortable with boost::convert::to I realized that after generalization the 'from' is obviously redundant as string-from-int can always be transformed to int-to-string. So, 'from' died out. When only 'to' left, I asked myself what it was doing on its own. I do agree in principle that having direction helps (even only somewhat) but 'to' does not seem to work. It all starts nicely: string s = boost::convert::to<int>(-1) Above 'to' does seem natural (IMHO of course) as the line kind of reads as "convert to int". However, with the default parameter it becomes string s = boost::convert::to(-1, "failed to convert") i.e. 'to' becomes a nuisance. In that setting I much prefer string s = boost::convert(-1, "failed to convert") which answers the "convert what" question as it reads as "convert int". Granted, the conversion destination becomes somewhat subtle. However, I do not feel it is too subtle to get one confused. More so, I feel the convert family is well discriminated (with enable_if) so that Wstring WIDE_str = boost::convert(-1, "failed to convert") will not compile. Therefore, I feel very safe with just string s = boost::convert(-1, "failed to convert"). That thought took me all the way from boost::string::convert() to boost::convert(). That looks like a reasonable and logical compromise which might not be as nice as "convert::to<int>" but overall holds better. I am OK with that. Others..? V.