-----Original Message----- From: boost-bounces@lists.boost.org [mailto:boost-bounces@lists.boost.org] On Behalf Of Robert Ramey Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 11:35 PM Subject: Re: [boost] Boost libraries after C++0x acceptance
Given a library for which there exists a free reference implmentation in terms of legal C++ language syntax, what value is gained by adding it to some standard?
If there value, is it worth the cost?
In an ideal world, I think, the answer would be none, no. In practice things are different. 1) From the user's perspective: Very few people seem to choose languages because of syntactical purity (think Perl) or e.g. the power of control it provides to you (manual memory mangement, pointers etc.). The deciding factor often seems to be the availability of a standard lib (Java, .Net). Most needed things are in place when the user installs a 'development environment', no need to search the web on and off, much better access to secondary literature (how many books are available about boost libs compared to books about the STL, Java SDK ... One could ask now, why it is more rewarding to authors to write books about 'standard libs' than about 'free reference implementations'). A standard lib might also offer some sort of protection from vendor specific derivations (esp. when there exists a monopoly) i.e. there is not yet something like a 'Microsoft C++'. 2) For the lib developer(s): Being accepted into the standard lib flatters their vanity (no valuation intended here), may improve job offerings and other earnings etc. This could possibly be deduced from 1) above. 3) From the vendor's perspective: 1) and 2) seem to lead to economical and or marketing advantages when the vendor adheres to a 'standard', but I don't really know. 4) From a quality perspective: I hope that the standard lib is reviewed by a much broader audience than boost. For example compiler vendors may have a vital interest in participating in the former process. This could lead to different assessments of a lib's interface (e.g. it might not be efficiently implementable). This is comparable to other fields: Why is there something like POSIX, if we have Linux? So in practice I'd say: If you care about the language you use, the answer might be 'a lot and yes'. cheers, aa -- Andreas Ames | Programmer | Comergo GmbH | Voice: +49 69 7505 3213 | ames AT avaya DOT com