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The Boost Software Process

Where Standardization meets the Chaos of Open Source

David Abrahams, Boost Consulting

copyright 2007 David Abrahams04/18/23 2

Why We Need High-Level Libraries Less code Real productivity

Less to writeLess to debug

More expressive codeNatural to writeMore self-documentingMore likely to be correct the first time

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Standard Library Deathmatch

Python JavaC++

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Boost Is… A collection of C++ libraries that are:

Open-source Portable Peer reviewed Rigorously tested

A volunteer developer community A set of online resources:

http://www.boost.org Mailing lists / newsgroups Documentation Articles File Vault: http://www.boost-consulting.com/vault

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Boost Origins - 1998 C++ standard ratified Beman Dawes

considers the state of std::

And asks where the new libraries will come from (~2008)

OK, we’re a little late…

Beman

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Boost Goals Fill gaps in std:: Establish “existing practice” for

standard.

Develop best practices for C++ library design

Have fun building great libraries!

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Consequent Goals Adoption

Portability Licensing Testing Scrutiny Quality Documentation

Volunteer contribution Community Ownership Acknowledgement

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Committee Software Process

1. Write proposal2. Submit proposal3. Wait for it to reach committee members4. If serious, show up at next meeting5. Proposal goes through wringer6. Apply feedback7. Work on formal wording (or back to step 2)8. More meetings9. Standard is Released

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Boost Software Process1. Gauge community interest2. Apply feedback3. Show the community something4. Apply feedback5. Request formal review6. Library goes through wringer7. Apply feedback8. Integrate into Boost (or back to step 3)9. Another Boost release10. Apply feedback11. Back to step 9

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Where Are the Libraries?

Boost:

72 libraries and growing!

(10 in TR1)

83

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Why Boost Matters Free high-level libraries Cutting-edge C++ practiced here!

Generic Programming InnovationBest practices

High quality Unique peer review process Major contributor to C++ standard /

TR1 Does stuff you need!

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Which do you prefer?Imperative: Declarative:

if (line.compare(...) == 0){ std::size_t offset = ...; if (line.compare(...) == 0) offset += ...;}

"^Subject: (Re: )?(.*)"

Describes procedure Verbose Hard to maintain Temporal

Describes goal Concise Easy to maintain Timeless

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Infix Calculator Grammar In Extended Backus-Naur Form

group ::= '(' expr ')'fact ::= integer | group;term ::= fact (('*' fact) | ('/' fact))*expr ::= term (('+' term) | ('-' term))*

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group ::= '(' expr ')'fact ::= integer | group;term ::= fact (('*' fact) | ('/' fact))*expr ::= term (('+' term) | ('-' term))*

Infix Calculator Grammar In Boost.Spirit

rule<> group, fact, term, expr;

group = '(' >> expr >> ')';fact = integer | group;term = fact >> *(('*' >> fact) | ('/' >> fact));expr = term >> *(('+' >> term) | ('-' >> term));