Re: Container Library?

[Michael van Acken <mvacken@t-online.de>]

> On the serious side, I would like to know where the OOC project
> stands regarding a "standard" container/data-structures library? Has
> anyone thought about this yet? I think it would be another
> worthwhile addition to the growing OOC library, but of course
> numerous design issues would have to be discussed. Okay, I hope that
> someone answers this mail... :-)

The idea creeps up now and then.  Actually, a number of ideas keep
doing that.  The problem is usually, that such an idea gets stuck in
its early childhood, in its "being just an idea" phase.

An idea needs a godfather.  His job is to lead the idea to maturity,
that is, towards working Oberon-2 code.  He has to coordinate the
work, starting with collecting opinions about the topic, sifting
through the options, and encouraging people to formulate their opinion
in terms of O2 code.  This whole process should culminate in a text
describing in detail the interface of one or more Oberon-2 modules.
With such a specification, some people could start to implement the
"idea", at least in theory.

The godfather should have a personal interest in the "idea", should be
willing to lead longish discussions over the details of the topic,
must shape the discussion through careful selection (the resulting
design should be sound, after all), and, most of all, he must be able
to keep things moving along to the ultimate goal.

Without such a godfather, the idea is doomed.


To get back to your question: Yes, such a thing would be worthy
addition to the OOC library.  What exactly do you have in mind?  (And
no, I will _not_ do the godfather part of this particular idea!)

-- mva