When I engage the compiler-in-my-mind to the example given at http://cppcms.sourceforge.net/boost_locale/html/ namely <code> #include <boost/locale.hpp> #include <boost/filesystem/path.hpp> #include <boost/filesystem/fstream.hpp> int main() { // Create and install global locale std::locale::global(boost::locale::generator().generate("")); // Make boost.filesystem use it boost::filesystem::path::imbue(std::locale()); // Now Works perfectly fine with UTF-8! boost::filesystem::ofstream hello("שלום.txt"); } </code> then it fails to work when the literal string is replaced with a `main` argument. A conversion is then necessary and must be added. It breaks the principle of least surprise. It breaks the principle of not paying for what you don't (want to) use. I understand, from discussions elsewhere, that the author(s) have chosen a narrow string encoding that requires inefficient & awkward conversions in all directions, for political/religious reasons. Maybe my understanding of that is faulty, that it's no longer politics & religion but outright war (and maybe that war is even over, with even Luke Skywalker dead or deadly wounded). However, I still ask: why FORCE INEFFICIENCY & AWKWARDNESS on Boost users -- why not just do it right, using the platforms' native encodings. Cheers, - Alf