Re: MySql coding style: Request for deprecation of UPPERCASE typedefs

[Kristian Nielsen]

Konstantin Osipov <kostja@stripped> writes:

> Inclusion with #include is a stronger dependency than inclusion 
> with a forward declaration. Especially in C++, where 
> your component becomes aware of such intricate parts of the
> included component as private members of classes.
> This is why forward declarations are preferred.
>
> Most C++ engineers I met found this fact more or less
> self-evident.
> However, if you are really interested in the subject
> I warmly recommend "Large-Scale C++ Software Design"
> by John Lakos. This books represents the viewpoint
> of no-unnecessary-dependencies camp very well.

Reducing dependencies is definitely a good thing.

However, merely using forward dependencies does not really do any good in this
respect, as in C++ you need the full definition to do anything except pass the
pointer around.

It also does not help me as a developer to know anything about how a type is
used in a file to see the forward declaration. The presense of a forward
declaration does not tell me that this type is not used with full definition
(from some #include). Nor does the absense of a forward declaration tell me
that the type is not used in the file. Even the absence of the #include of the
definition tells me nothing, as it could be pulled in by another #include.

So that is why I asked what the purpose of encouraging forward declarations
is, and with the answers I received this is now clear, thanks!

*Changing* the code so that it is possible to replace the #include of a
definition with a forward declaration in some files _does_ help reduce
dependencies, and can be a very good thing of course.

 - Kristian.