[SG16-Unicode] Questions about some corner cases of proposed std::basic_text encoding implementation

Tom Honermann tom at honermann.net
Sat Nov 9 22:33:14 CET 2019


On 11/9/19 11:05 AM, JeanHeyd Meneide wrote:
> On Sat, Nov 9, 2019 at 3:44 AM Lyberta <lyberta at lyberta.net 
> <mailto:lyberta at lyberta.net>> wrote:
>
>     Lyberta:
>     > JeanHeyd Meneide:
>     >> Absolutely, the default should be basic_string.
>     >
>     > I disagree but I didn't write a proposal yet so we'll talk later.
>
>     Although here's one of the big arguments why std::basic_string is
>     really
>     badly designed:
>
>     http://www.gotw.ca/gotw/084.htm
>
>     And then if we note that Unicode code units have almost zero
>     semantics,
>     we can remove 80% of the API.
>
>
> As a counterpoint, there's no reason you can't just ignore the 
> vestigal API on std::string. While a "bloated" interface, long gone 
> are the days where a function you write has to appear in your final 
> binary, or even in your object files.
>
> I understand it's not ideal, but remember that introducing new 
> vocabulary types means you need to compete with every single API that 
> currently takes std::string. That's a lot of APIs you're risking no 
> compatibility with, and explicit conversions means the user has a lot 
> of typing to do. Try to think about how expensive that can be for the 
> user if you introduce new basic types, and the compatibility you lose 
> with code being written even today.
>
> You can still propose such types, but please do be careful: it might 
> not be the best use of your time for something Library Evolution 
> Working Group (Incubator) will likely shoot down immediately.

I'd like to add a strong +1 on this.  The committee is willing to 
deprecate things in rare cases.  I will say with near 100% confidence 
that WG21 will never deprecate std::basic_string or any significant 
portions of it due to extremely wide spread use.  WG21 is not in the 
business of producing a perfect, pure, or ideal language; we evaluate 
and make practical decisions based on impact to the entire community and 
ecosystem.  Please focus your attention on ideas that you know to have 
support from members of the groups that will evaluate it.  Otherwise, 
you will be wasting your time and the committee's time.

Tom.

>
> Sincerely,
> JeanHeyd
>
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