"Malcolm Smith" <mjfreelancing@optusnet.com.au> writes:

Hi,

I am new to this list and saw the messages related to traits and policies.

I am an experienced C++ developer but have a limited knowledge of the STL and even less of boost - I've joined this list in an effort to become more familiar.

I understand policy classes but am not very familiar with traits.

Can someone recommend a link for me to follow so I can better understand what they are as well as when, why and how to use them.

http://www.boost.org/more/generic_programming.html Then you can read this thread, at least until you get bored with the silly semantic wrangling ;-) http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.lib.boost.devel/35645 (click the subject to see the other articles in the thread) -- Dave Abrahams Boost Consulting www.boost-consulting.com

From: "Malcolm Smith" <mjfreelancing@optusnet.com.au>

I am new to this list and saw the messages related to traits and policies.

Welcome.

I understand policy classes but am not very familiar with traits.

The former grew out of the latter.

Can someone recommend a link for me to follow so I can better understand what they are as well as when, why and how to use them.

http://www.boost.org/libs/type_traits/index.html defines a large collection of single-purpose traits classes. std::numeric_limits, a collection of traits under a single name, is another example of a traits class. -- Rob Stewart stewart@sig.com Software Engineer http://www.sig.com Susquehanna International Group, LLP using std::disclaimer;