[Libmesh-devel] Small things

[<lu...@gi...>]

Hi

Thanks to Ben for implementing the Parameter class. It makes many
things simpler, and I already used it in the new implementation of
GMVIO (patch follows after some more testing).

To make Parameter more like a container, I would like a size() method
instead of the n_parameters() methods. Of course it would also be nice
if one could use the hash_map syntax

parameters<Real>["time"] =3D 5.
Real time =3D parameters<Real>["time"]

but this is probably just my Pythonic eye ;-)

I also wonder whether one could get a list of the keys, or iterators.

                               --- o ---

A really minor request is to add a "String" type, which would of
course be defined by

typedef std::string String;

This would make the specification of the parameters<XXX> more unified
and easier to read. AFAIK there is no performance penalty with this.

                               --- o ---

Has anybody started a HOWTO or FAQ? I have some small entries, and
many more are likely to follow. The main question is: should this be
a Wiki, or should this just be some text document (preferentially
Latex or Docbook).

This document would list things that are maybe trivial for developers,
like the usage of environment variables to compile in debug mode, how
to best calculate derived quantities, aso.

Of course I volunteer to start such an effort.

Best, Martin

--=20
Martin L=FCthi              University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Dr. sc. nat.              tel: +1 (907) 474 7691
                          fax: +1 (907) 474 7290
                          mel: lu...@gi...

http://gi.alaska.edu/~luthi/