What's the deal with boost?

[noobermin]

So I've decided to start making myself a little more versatile by getting more familiar with the c++ world and I've seen the name "boost". So following the get-to-know-things-better spirit, I decided to look it up. It's free, but it sounds a bit more commercial. What exactly is it's deal? How does it's utilities compare to others out there?

[Bachstelze]

You're probably talking about the Boost libraries. They're just that, a set of libraries that implement a lot of functions so you don't have to do it yourself.

http://www.boost.org/

[noobermin]

Indeed. I'm asking about the project's philosophy, and I guess, how does it compare to other similar projects out there?

[Bachstelze]

Indeed. I'm asking about the project's philosophy, and I guess, how does it compare to other similar projects out there?

I don't think there's any similar project out there, or at least any that has such an extensive set of features. Boost is very big, they have libraries for a lot of stuff, and they are generally considered very good (unless your name is Linus Torvalds, in which case only software you write is good). Others here will probably be able to give you some other names, but they're likely to be more specialised.

[gusnan]

Some stuff that is in boost gets into the c++ standard, so it is a very safe bet to learn boost.

[noobermin]

Ok. I know that a few of the programs I use use boost, so that's kind of how I found out about it at first.

I guess there isn't any hidden EULA variant waiting to jump at you and devour your soul :P