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# Boost Frequently Asked Questions

How do I download the libraries? See Download instructions.

What support is available for the libraries? Try the boost@yahoogroups.com mailing list.

What do the Boost version numbers mean? The scheme is x.y.z, where x is incremented only for massive changes, such as a reorganization of many libraries, y is incremented whenever a new library is added, and z is incremented for maintenance releases. y and z are reset to 0 if the value to the left changes.
How can the Boost libraries be used successfully for important projects? Many of the Boost libraries are actively maintained and improved, so backward compatibility with prior version isn't always possible. Deal with this by freezing the version of the Boost libraries used by your project. Only upgrade at points in your project's life cycle where a bit of change will not cause problems. Individual bug fixes can always be obtained from the CVS repository.

How is a library accepted for posting on the site? See Library Submission Process

Is there any assurance libraries actually work as claimed? No. The review process will hopefully eliminate the most seriously flawed libraries, but a well constructed library with hidden defects is likely to slip through. Encouraging ordinary users to report their experience with a library is intended to address such concerns.

How does someone submit a comment? Send email to boost@yahoogroups.com.

How does someone submit a library? See Library Guidelines

Are commercial libraries requiring a fee acceptable? No. However, a library that a commercial enterprise makes available without fee is acceptable. If the description of the library makes a low-key plug for the supplier, that is acceptable as long as the library delivers real value and isn’t just a Trojan horse for the plug.

Are shareware libraries acceptable? No. At least initially, only free libraries will be accepted.

Are open source license libraries acceptable? Some are, many are not. Open source licenses often require redistribution or availability of source code, inclusion of license document with machine-executable redistribution, give the initial developer rights to licensee modifications, or need a lawyer to understand. These would be immediate disqualifications for many business, commercial, and consumer applications. Boost aims to avoid subjecting users to hard-to-comply-with license terms. See License requirements.
This is subject to review for a particularly important piece of software, or as the industry changes.

Must full source code be provided? Yes, these are source code libraries.

What about documentation? A very simple library might be accepted with only a well commented header file. For more substantial libraries, some form of documentation is certainly going to be expected. HTML is the preferred form.

Are platform specific libraries acceptable? There is a preference for portable libraries. Libraries will be accepted that have portable interfaces but require platform specific implementations, as long as the author supplies implementations for a couple of disparate major operating systems.

Must a library do useful work? No. A library meant as a teaching example or demonstration might not actually do any work.

Who owns the libraries? Presumably many authors will copyright their libraries. Others authors may wish to place their libraries in the public domain. The Boost.org policy is to only accept libraries with a clear copyright notice. It is up to potential users to decide if they find the copyright terms acceptable, and to not use libraries with unacceptable copyrights.

Is there a formal relationship between Boost.org and the C++ Standards Committee? No. The people who started Boost.org were all on the committee, but that was just happenstance.

Will the Boost.org libraries become part of the next C++ Standard? Some might, someday off in the future, but that is up to the standards committee. To the extent a library becomes "existing practice", the likelihood increases that someone will propose it for future standardization. Submitting a library to Boost.org is one way to establish existing practice - as long as enough people are interested to download and use it!

Is the web site a commercial business? No. It is just some people getting together as a kind of cyberspace civic association. If it ever needs to incorporate, it would be as non-profit organization.

Is there any charge for submitting libraries or reviews to Boost.org? No. Unlike the standards committees, you don’t have to pay to volunteer!

Will the site include material beyond libraries? The main focus is on libraries, but if people contribute occasional articles or other material to make the site more interesting, that could be a nice fit.

Why isn't there a separate boost mailing list for my favorite library? One of the reasons for boost's success has been the cross-pollination of ideas between diverse library projects and the occasional look into other threads by otherwise uninterested parties. The more people participate, the less they tend to be annoyed by "noise".

How can I cope with the large volume of boost mailing list messages? One approach is to use the YahooGroups digest option; that cuts the email blizzard down to about three (long) messages per day, so you can glance over the subjects summary at the top and quickly read what you think is important. The YahooGroups "no mail/web only" option is best if you just occasionally want to look at messages.

Yet another approach is to use your email program's capabilities to filter messages and automatically transfer them into several boost folders. Then only read the folders you care about. Boost list posters are encouraged to include keywords in the subject like "thread", "review", and "CVS" to aid message filtering.

Revised 24 April, 2001