Hmmm - so you are proposing that something like the following header be added to boost?

...

Yes, Robert, something like this.

a) where in the directory/namespace would this be? boost, boost/utility, or?

For example, in boost/base64 directory and in boost namespace. I think it CAN be in boost namespace. So we have boost/base64 directory with docs, examples and base64.hpp file. In main boost directory will be file with same name base64.hpp with: #include <boost/base64/base64.hpp>

c) All this for one small special purpose function?

d) How is a user going to find this pair of functions in the boost

Yes, Robert, for one small, concrete and frequent task. libraries. As well as he going to find boost::mem_fn, for example... :-)

e) As soon as someone puts this in, imediately some else will ask - great but it needs a parameter to so I can change the line width. Then someone asks for someother tweak. This is the result of making a "simple solution". It's easy enough to make a simple solution - it's very hard to keep it simple.

I understand you. My solution is simple and will be simple. Without "line width", special formatting, etc. Base64 encoding/decoding, nothing else. - Denis