standards/175811: libstdc++ needs complex support in order use C99

[Warner Losh]

On May 30, 2013, at 11:13 AM, Steve Kargl wrote:

> On Thu, May 30, 2013 at 10:41:24AM -0500, Pedro Giffuni wrote:
>> 
>> I may be wrong but with long double support people that
>> need erfcl() and tgamma() can get them from boost.
>> The problem is therefore not implementing everything but
>> getting enough to turn on the features supported by
>> libstdc++ and boost.
>> 
> 
> Of course, you're wrong. :-) :-) <-- Note smileys.
> 
> C99 defines many long double functions.  Anyone wanting
> to use C and libm, and not C++ and boost, will need 
> quality implementations of these functions.  Of course,
> the lack of any actual C99 compiler tends to dampen 
> this argument.  
> 
> What I find appalling is reading "people are tired
> of the situation with libm, so I'm  going to commit
> some atrocious hack".   The proper response should be
> "so I'm going to help implement and test the missing
> functionality".  It's unfortunate that only a few
> individuals are working to fix libm, but such is
> life. 

I'd help, but the barriers to entry are somewhat steep and prickly. I tried to help, and got no end of grief for documenting the differences in an algorithm that was actually different that people told me was the same. In that environment, you suck the enthusiasm out of the air an wind up in the something is better than nothing camp quite quickly.

Warner