Re: [Opencxx-users] C++ design patterns

[Grzegorz J. <ja...@he...>]

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004, SF Markus Elfring wrote:

> I am suprised about some details in the documentation.
> The use of pointers seems not to be "state of the art".
>
> Examples:
> - Ptree* FullTypeName()
> - InsertDeclaration(Environment* e, Ptree* d, Ptree* key, void* client_data)
> - InstancesOf(char* metaclas_name, ClassArray& result)
>
> I would expect references to C++ objects and the use of a standard string class.

First, I don't think that always aiming at "start of the art" solution is
a good engineering practice. E.g. very often "state of the art solution",
say Loki::SmartPtr<> or visitable classes, is an overkill. It requires
codding and attention and sometimes does not pay off.

Second, software development always has to face the legacy and backward
compatibility issues. Certain decisions about interfaces (in particular
how pointers are used) once made are costly to change later (in terms of
coding or loosing users).

Third, observe that OpenC++ uses garbage collection. The popular idiom
that reference is a non-owning pointer is not useful in this context.
Moreover, it can be deadly if function stores the reference passed in.
AFAIK the original idea was then to stick to the pointers.

Fourth, strings have been standardized in 1998, OpenC++ was created in
in 1995.

Fifth, OpenC++ really includes many state of the art programming
techniques from the time of its inception. Just have a look when the GoF
book was first published.

Sixth, personally I feel that your judgement is unfair to Chiba and other
contributors, who put effort into making and keeping OpenC++ operational.
IMHO it would be more enabling to ask about the rationales than to throw
judgements.

Seventh, I agree that OpenC++ has many shortcommings. As Chiba mentions in
his reply, we do not have enough manpower now. I am in the process of
building a team of reliable volunteers ready to tackle the outstanding
issues. If you would like to join this effort and put some time into
making OpenC++ better, you are more than welcome. Please contact me
directly for more details on volunteering.

Best regards
Grzegorz

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# Grzegorz Jakacki                       Huada Electronic Design #
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