From c09fe6e22b0e04608dfda686bc4b269a4cf21652 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Beman Dawes Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 19:32:44 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Apply Dave Abrahams editorial suggestions [SVN r29940] --- background.html | 51 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------------------- 1 file changed, 29 insertions(+), 22 deletions(-) diff --git a/background.html b/background.html index b30c139..f6a661e 100644 --- a/background.html +++ b/background.html @@ -24,7 +24,7 @@

Boost Background Information

Why should an organization use Boost?

-In one word, Productivity. Use of high-quality libraries like +In a word, Productivity. Use of high-quality libraries like Boost speeds initial development, results in fewer bugs, reduces reinvention-of-the-wheel, and cuts long-term maintenance costs. And since Boost libraries tend to become de facto or de jure standards, many @@ -47,32 +47,40 @@ Who's Using Boost page for a sampling. We don't know the exact numbers, but a release gets around 100,000 downloads from SourceForge, and that is only one of several distribution routes.

What do others say about Boost?

-

Herb Sutter and -Andrei Alexandrescu, -in C++ Coding -Standards, say "...one of the most highly regarded and expertly +

"...one of the most highly regarded and expertly designed C++ library projects in the world."

-

Scott Meyers, in -Effective C++, 3rd Ed., -says "Item 55: Familiarize yourself with Boost."

-

Bjarne Stroustrup, in -Abstraction, -libraries, and efficiency in C++, says: "The obvious solution for most +

+

-- Herb Sutter and +Andrei Alexandrescu, +C++ Coding +Standards

+
+

"Item 55: Familiarize yourself with Boost."

+
+

-- Scott Meyers, +Effective C++, 3rd Ed.

+
+

"The obvious solution for most programmers is to use a library that provides an elegant and efficient platform independent to needed services. Examples are BOOST..."

+
+

-- Bjarne Stroustrup, +Abstraction, +libraries, and efficiency in C++

+

How do users get support?

-

For relatively straight-forward support needs, users rely on the -mailing lists and newsgroups. One of the -advantages of Boost is the responsiveness of both other users and Boost +

For relatively straightforward support needs, users rely on the +mailing lists. One of the +advantages of Boost is the responsiveness of other users and Boost developers.

For more involved needs, -Commercial Support is also available.

+Commercial Support is available.

What about license issues?

Boost has its own license, developed with help from the Harvard Law School.  The Boost license polices encourage both commercial and non-commercial use, and the Boost license is not related to the -GPL or other licenses which are sometimes seen as business unfriendly.

+GPL or other licenses - that are sometimes seen as business unfriendly.

What about other intellectual property issues?

The Boost libraries tend to be new, fresh, and creative designs. They are not copies, clones, or derivations of proprietary libraries. Boost has a firm policy @@ -82,13 +90,12 @@ source code has been inspected by many, many knowledgeable programmers. Each Boost file has a copyright notice and license information. IP issues have been reviewed by the legal teams from some of the corporations which use Boost, and in some cases these lawyers have been kind enough to give Boost feedback on IP -issues. No guarantees, but those factors all tend to reduce IP risk.

+issues. There are no guarantees, but those factors all tend to reduce IP risk.

Why would anyone give away valuable software for free?

-

Businesses and other organizations contribute everything from tiny patches up -to complete libraries, when doing so is cheaper and/or higher quality than -commercial software. This is particularly true for software they have a need -for, but don't consider proprietary because it is of a general or utility -nature.

+

Businesses and other organizations often prefer to have code developed, +maintained, and improved in the open source community when it does not contain +technology specific to their application domain, because it allows them to focus +more development resources on their core business.

Individuals contribute for the technical challenge, to hone their technical skills, for the sense of community, as part of their graduate school programs, as a way around geographic isolation, to enhance their employment opportunities,