on Wed Aug 08 2007, Stefan Seefeld <seefeld-AT-sympatico.ca> wrote:
I've used 'dependee', but I'm not sure if it's correct English.
No according to me - and as I'm really English English, I should know ;¬))
I don't think there is an existing word, surprisingly.
I am the provider for my dependents, but that too isn't quite the right word? It doesn't quite imply that I really am depended on?
I still fail to see the problem. What is wrong with 'prerequisite' ? The entry in http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prerequisite makes it look quite suitable.
There's a subtle temporal aspect ("pre") that I don't think we want to communicate. Actually I don't like either "prerequisite" or "dependency" all that much, because both imply that the prerequisite/dependency library isn't useful on its own ("it's just a prerequisite for the rest of Boost"). I think, unless we're talking explicitly about a relationship between two libraries, I prefer "core" or "base" or something simple like Beman chose initially, which distinguishes the libraries' role without implying any relationship to the other libraries. We can still use that relationship as a criterion for choosing core libraries. backpedaling-ly y'rs, dave -- Dave Abrahams Boost Consulting http://www.boost-consulting.com The Astoria Seminar ==> http://www.astoriaseminar.com