Ian McCulloch <ianmcc@physik.rwth-aachen.de> writes:
As I understand it (someone please correct me if I got this wrong), the core idea of the new proposal (from http://lists.boost.org/Archives/boost/2005/11/96923.php and followups) is to provide a single point of customization, that *serialization function authors* can utilize to serialize an array in one call. Of course making use of this hook is optional, but since it is also a good convenience function (it saves a couple of lines by avoiding having to manually code a loop), there isn't really any point to not use it.
Ian, I know you're trying to help, but please don't jump ahead to that conclusion. I would prefer that either a) Robert comes to that conclusion on his own or b) He understands and accepts the consequences (which I have not yet described) of not drawing that conclusion. I am trying to very carefully build understanding of those consequences and making the assertion yourself is not going convince anyone.
Note that a significant point of the proposal http://lists.boost.org/Archives/boost/2005/11/96923.php is that the possibility exists that this 'hook' is not part of the serialization library proper, but the point is *it must be globally accessible* and not specific to a particular archive.
There's really no need to make that point. Robert just needs to understand what he's getting into if he decides not to accept that, and the *technical* reasons for those consequences. So please, let's not push that conclusion on him. He's free to agree or disagree, as he pleases. -- Dave Abrahams Boost Consulting www.boost-consulting.com