From: Warren Young
Date: July 13 2007 5:45am
Subject: Re: Connection::connect() interface is changing
List-Archive: http://lists.mysql.com/plusplus/6776
Message-Id: <46971163.8010800@etr-usa.com>
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Drew M. wrote:
> If it ain't broke....

IMHO, it is broke.  :)

> I don't see a compelling need to rearrange the arguments for the connect
> interface, unless there have been a lot of complaints that I am not aware
> of.

The reason is simple: code shouldn't have to pass any more of these 
arguments than absolutely necessary.  This being a statically compiled 
language, there's only so close we can get to that ideal.  I think this 
is it.

Perhaps my assumptions are wrong.  Do you connect to a DB server on 
another server more often than one on the local host?  If so, then I can 
see putting the server_addr parameter back in front of the user name.

> the arrangement you propose doesn't really feel intuitive.

I agree, it takes some getting used to.  The question, then, is whether 
it's more useful this way.  Usefulness trumps intuitiveness.

> here is how the mysql_real_connect function looks in the C api:

That's no argument.  The whole point of MySQL++ is to improve on the C 
API, not slavishly copy it.  If you just wanted a tight C++ wrapper for 
the C API, this ain't it.

> I think that the potential for confusion on this is enough to warrant just
> leaving it alone. I foresee lots of torn-out hair from people trying to
> figure out why they can connect to mysql via the C API (or command line
> client) but not mysql++.

In all the years I've been maintaining and using MySQL++, I remember a 
lot more times we've had to try and convince a MySQL++ newbies to try 
something with the C API to see if it differs than someone coming from 
the C API to MySQL++ and being annoyed at its differences.

It's my contention that most MySQL++ users have little experience with 
the C API.  It's both possible and desirable to learn MySQL++ only and 
ignore the underlying C API.  Not always practical, but desirable.