[Quantlib-dev] Some suggestions

[Patrick C. <ch...@is...>]

Hi folks,

I just downloaded this package and built it. Nice job on this package.

I don't know if your folks have thought about using the CMake in this 
project or not.

http://www.cmake.org

CMake is a powerful cross-platform, open-source make system. It's using 
revise BSD style license, so there should be no conflict with the 
QuantLib's license.

Quote, "CMake is used to control the software compilation process using 
simple platform and compiler independent configuration files. CMake 
generates native makefiles and workspaces that can be used in the 
compiler environment of your choice."

Some benefit about using CMake in the project would be:
1. Simplify the build process
2. Supporting most platforms and compilers
3. Facilitating the automatic testing
4. Easy to mange and extend, you don't need to spend any time to support 
the new compilers(this will be taken care of by cmake)

As very first benefit, for instence, when we build this package using 
CMake, it will ask for the "boost" library, this will automatic link the 
given directory and lib to Make file or Project file. Saving user's 
energy to untangle the linking problem.

Right now CMake supports most OS, and Borland, NMake, Unix, Visual 
Studio 6, 7, .Net 2003, 2005 compilers.

I'd like to help on this project, first by adding the cmake support. It 
won't require any refactoring. Just add a simple "CMakeLists.txt" in 
each directory.

Some of my background:

Patrick Cheng
Software Engineer

Experience:
3 years experience with open source software development, (ITK, VTK, 
FLTK, CMake, CVS ...)
Current project: Image-guided Surgery Toolkit (IGSTK) C++ Object 
oriented open source project.

I am interested in the finance field and I am shooting for the CFA test 
this December. I'd love to get involved in this project.

I will look into the code a little bit more and see which part I am 
interested in.

Thank you for reading this long email,

Patrick