[npsimons]

Perhaps I should have clarified: when I said quick test program, I was referring to something I would write to convince myself of some minor detail (sometimes just checking compiler warts or algorithm performance) and that piece of code would never be seen or run by anyone but me. I know that the first argument will always be an integer, because I'm the only one who will pass it arguments! I'm also (kind of unreasonably) a const nazi. So given the option, where I can take a shortcut (I know, bad, bad programmer), but still do "proper" programming (consting everything by default is my SOP), I'll do it. And I'll never release that code (I'm starting to regret posting that snippet here . . .).

I will agree, though, option parsing libraries are a definite must for released software. I like Boost, but using even small parts of it tends to pull everything in, and at least for my current project, we are trying to minimize dependencies (it's a library). I had to fight for Boost::regex, and only got it as a fallback for compiler versions that don't have regex.

[johnbellone]

I wasn't lambasting you, and I wouldn't ever regret posting a snippet. It helps drive the conversation.

I understand and agree with Boost injecting a whole lot of dependencies, and for a small testing library or executable I would probably got the same route that you did. I'm also a pedantic const nazi at times, and merely replied back as it makes me feel that, in some else's code, they may find this useful.

If you take a look at the Doom3 code there are even places where they stray from the code style guide when it makes sense. I'm more of a proponent of "in the moment" styling to make sure that it matches the rest of the project, or at the very least, component that I am working on.