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Boost Implementation Variations

Separation of interface and implementation

The interface specifications for boost.org library components (as well as for quality software in general) are conceptually separate from implementations of those interfaces. This may not be obvious, particularly when a component is implemented entirely within a header, but this separation of interface and implementation is always assumed. From the perspective of those concerned with software design, portability, and standardization, the interface is what is important, while the implementation is just a detail.

Dietmar Kühl, one of the original boost.org contributors, comments "The main contribution is the interface, which is augmented with an implementation, proving that it is possible to implement the corresponding class and providing a free implementation."

Implementation variations

There may be a need for multiple implementations of an interface, to accommodate either platform dependencies or performance tradeoffs. Examples of platform dependencies include compiler shortcomings, file systems, thread mechanisms, and graphical user interfaces. The classic example of a performance tradeoff is a fast implementation which uses a lot of memory versus a slower implementation which uses less memory.

Boost libraries generally use a configuration header, boost/config.hpp, to capture compiler and platform dependencies.  Although the use of boost/config.hpp is not required, it is the preferred approach for simple configuration problems.  

Boost policy

The Boost policy is to avoid platform dependent variations in interface specifications, but supply implementations which are usable over a wide range of platforms and applications.  That means boost libraries will use the techniques below described as appropriate for dealing with platform dependencies.

The Boost policy toward implementation variations designed to enhance performance is to avoid them unless the benefits greatly exceed the full costs.  The term "full costs" is intended to include both tangible costs like extra maintenance, and intangible cost like increased difficulty in user understanding.

Techniques for providing implementation variations

Several techniques may be used to provide implementation variations. Each is appropriate in some situations, and not appropriate in other situations.

Single general purpose implementation

The first technique is to simply not provide implementation variation at all.  Instead, provide a single general purpose implementation, and forgo the increased complexity implied by all other techniques.

Appropriate:  When it is possible to write a single portable implementation which has reasonable performance across a wide range of platforms. Particularly appropriate when alternative implementations differ only in esoteric ways.

Not appropriate: When implementation requires platform specific features, or when there are multiple implementation possible with widely differing performance characteristics.

Beman Dawes comments "In design discussions some implementation is often alleged to be much faster than another, yet  a timing test discovers no significant difference. The lesson is that while algorithmic differences may affect speed dramatically, coding differences such as changing a class from virtual to non-virtual members or removing a level of indirection are unlikely to make any measurable difference unless deep in an inner loop. And even in an inner loop, modern CPU’s often execute such competing code sequences in the same number of clock cycles!  A single general purpose implementation is often just fine."

Or as Donald Knuth said, "Premature optimization is the root of all evil." (Computing Surveys, vol 6, #4, p 268).

Macros

While the evils of macros are well known, there remain a few cases where macros are the preferred solution:

Appropriate:  For small compile-time variations which would otherwise be costly or confusing to install, use, or maintain. More appropriate to communicate within and between library components than to communicate with library users.

Not appropriate:  If other techniques will do.

To minimize the negative aspects of macros:

Separate files

A library component can have multiple variations, each contained in its own separate file or files.  The files for the most appropriate variation are copied to the appropriate include or implementation directories at installation time.

The way to provide this approach in boost libraries is to include specialized implementations as separate files in separate sub-directories in the .ZIP distribution file. For example, the structure within the .ZIP distribution file for a library named foobar which has both default and specialized variations might look something like:

foobar.h		// The default header file
foobar.cpp		// The default implementation file
readme.txt		// Readme explains when to use which files
self_contained/foobar.h	// A variation with everything in the header
linux/foobar.cpp      	// Implementation file to replace the default
win32/foobar.h          // Header file to replace the default
win32/foobar.cpp	// Implementation file to replace the default

Appropriate:  When different platforms require different implementations, or when there are major performance differences between possible implementations. 

Not appropriate:  When it makes sense to use more that one of the variations in the same installation.

Separate components

Rather than have several implementation variations of a single component, supply several separate components. For example, the Boost library currently supplies scoped_ptr and shared_ptr classes rather than a single smart_ptr class parameterized to distinguish between the two cases.  There are several ways to make the component choice:

Appropriate: When the interfaces for the variations diverge, and when it is reasonably to use more than one of the variations. When run-time selection of implementation is called for.

Not appropriate: When the variations are data type, traits, or specialization variations which can be better handled by making the component a template. Also not appropriate when choice of variation is best done by some setup or installation mechanism outside of the program itself.  Thus usually not appropriate to cope with platform differences.

Note: There is a related technique where the interface is specified as an abstract (pure virtual) base class (or an interface definition language), and the implementation choice is passed off to some third-party, such as a dynamic-link library or object-request broker. While that is a powerful technique, it is way beyond the scope of this discussion.

Template-based approaches

Turning a class or function into a template is often an elegant way to cope with variations.  Template-based approaches provide optimal space and time efficiency in return for constraining the implementation selection to compile time. 

Important template techniques include:

SomeClass<fast>  my_fast_object;  // fast and small are empty classes
SomeClass<small> my_small_object; // used just to select specialization

Appropriate: When the need for variation is due to data type or traits, or is performance related like selecting among several algorithms, and when a program might reasonably use more than one of the variations.

Not appropriate:  When the interfaces for variations are different, or when choice of variation is best done by some mechanism outside of the program itself.  Thus usually not appropriate to cope with platform differences.

Revised 02 October, 2003

© Copyright Beman Dawes 2001

Use, modification, and distribution are subject to the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)