container stuff

[Andrei Alexandrescu]

On 05/26/2010 04:59 PM, Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
> BLS Wrote:
>
>> On 26/05/2010 01:04, Steven Schveighoffer wrote:
>>> I can probably submit my basic implementations, and use them from
>>> std.x to implement dcollections.  This way, the complex pieces
>>> are shared. Dcollections definitely fills needs that this
>>> collection package doesn't, and it should be mostly compatible.
>>>
>>> -Steve
>>
>> Not that I like the idea of having (once again) two libs instead of
>> one, but I am convinced that the separation between core data-
>> structures, say xxTree, xxList, xxNode etc. and the final
>> implementation f.i. Set, Dictionary/Map. is a very good thing.
>
> I don't think it will be analogous to a Tango/Phobos separation.

Same here.

> Dcollections supports ranges, and the major interface to Andrei's
> containers is ranges, and if my implementations are accepted, both
> will probably even be using the same underlying implementations.  So
> I think the two libs will quite happily exist together.  I am
> disappointed that dcollections wasn't chosen, but given the eventual
> API that Andrei has come up with, I think it didn't really have a
> shot from the beginning.

I much appreciate your kind willingness to essentially help push D 
forward before all else.

During a private talk of a couple of days ago, Walter gave me a vote of 
confidence by essentially saying: "Whatever container library makes it 
in Phobos, I want to to be by your vision, not someone else's." This is 
nice to know, but at the same time piles a high responsibility because 
it puts me in position to decide on e.g. integration of dcollection into 
Phobos.

Now say you put yourself in my place and Walter tells you that. You 
obviously have some idea on how you want a container library to be, 
because you wrote one! So most likely you'd put your design in, not mine 
or anyone else's, and you'd be using and accepting other designs and 
implementations only to the extent they satisfy your vision.

This is all rhetorical because it's clear to me you have such an 
understanding of the situation, but it's a sort of a public rehashing of 
the dynamics that's going on right now.


Andrei