isn't the aim (or one of it) of generic programming to use function templates as a function and especially class templates as a class?

Alexander Stepanov, the person who coined

the term "generic programming," has

emphasized many times: generic programming

is not about how to use templates. The first

version of STL is done in Scheme. Generic

programming is an idea, templates is only a

way to approach this idea.

You say, a "protocol" is a function in a truer sense than a template function. In what ways and where is this useful?

The top of the thread pointed out that a

function template, given the recent efforts

of improvements, still does not look like

normal code. A function that takes type

parameter declared with a protocol not only

looks like "normal code," it has to look like

normal code. It can also support separate

compilation, in other words, builds like

normal code.

Zhihao Yuan, ID lichray
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
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