[zeromq-dev] Porting libzmq to C++11

lists at chuckremes.com lists at chuckremes.com
Fri May 19 20:29:08 CEST 2017


I’m not against this idea. My earlier posts were to make sure people understood some of the reasons why it wasn’t written in “real” C++ the first time through.

Maybe C++17 (or C++20??) are the magic bullet. I hope so.

I look forward to the fork and the clean, elegant code you all will write to make this work.


> On May 19, 2017, at 1:09 PM, Harald Achitz <harald.achitz at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> libzmq11 is not enough, as said, until this is usable c++17 will be old.
> C++14 is indeed a bugfix version of C++11, but a very required one.
> C++17 is big and important, do not believe what some less relevant people write in the net.
> the next big thing is c++20, modules, concepts, maybe even network. hopefully reflections
> Please, those who not like it, I know Martins post about C++, ignore this.
> If you are not interested in a modern C++ zmq implementation, this is OK, but leaf this topic alone.
> Modernizing the existing implementation is not an option,  using it as a templat to look what to do, and how - or how not - is an option.
> maybe a modern C++ implementation will ever exist and this is just discussion,  but I find it nice that I am not the only one thinking about that.
> and who knows, if one person was able to make a zmq implementation in java, why not in modern c++
> I think it is enough to be able to communicate with a libzmq implementation
> 
> /Harald
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 2017-05-19 18:24 GMT+02:00 Doron Somech <somdoron at gmail.com <mailto:somdoron at gmail.com>>:
> We need to maintain libzmq as it the stable repository. I suggest a new project, maybe called libzmq11.
> 
> I think we should fork and update the code and not a rewrite. IMHO Rewrite will fail, as other rewrites attempt failed.
> 
> Regarding porting ongoing pull requests, I don't think we need to do that. As other port of libzmq (NetMQ and JeroMQ) don't port every pull request.
> If a user want to port a solution to a problem they can just send a pull request.
> 
> It is very important to maintain the same API as libzmq, as this will what make users upgrade to the new version. We can mark the entire API as obsolete, make a new one which is using C++11 (and can be called from other languages and frameworks) but support the old API none the less.
> 
> The main problem I see with this project is that 99.5% of the users of zeromq don't care. They will not benefit directly from the upgrade. They will benefit if the new version will be more active and will solve new problems.
> 
> So, to summarize:
> 1. Fork, don't rewrite
> 2. Use C4
> 3. Maintain the same API
> 4. Obsolete old API and create new cooler API (if you really want to)
> 5. Find a way users will benefit from the move
> 6. It will take time, years probably, be patient
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, May 19, 2017 at 5:00 PM, Aram Santogidis <aram.santogidis at cern.ch <mailto:aram.santogidis at cern.ch>> wrote:
> I'm happy that you guys like the idea and are willing to contribute.
> 
> I see two separate issues from the remarks made so far.
> 
> 1) Fork and modernize current codebase or write from scratch.
> 2) Update libzmq or create a new ZeroMQ project under a different name.
> 
> The point 1) has to do with the technical aspects of the undertaking.
> The point 2) is related to ZeroMQ project managemnt/policy matters.
> 
> Doron, I like your suggestion about forking instead of starting from scratch. What would be your position on point 2)?
> For me this is the sticking point and it is not obvious which option is best.
> 
> If changes will be committed back to libzmq then compatibility will be broken for legacy systems from a certain version and beyond. The alternative option of creating a new project potentially leads to (community) resource fragmentation and "branding" issues.
> 
> Regarding C++11,14... well I think the question at hand is not which exact version of C++ should be adopted but rather if the project will follow the evolution of the language and related technologies, with whatever "phase" difference serves best the community.
> 
> PS: Does anybody know how big is the usergroup that runs ZeroMQ on Windows XP and such? Not even Microsoft support XP anymore.
> 
> Cheers,
> Aram
> 
> 
> 
> On 19.05.2017 15:21, BJovke . wrote:
> I have a feeling that C++14 and C++17 are just improvements of C++11.
> C++11 is the game changer, 14 and 17 don't bring ground breaking stuff.
> 
> I would be also happy to contribute to C++11 libzmq but I'm not sure how much stuff I can do.
> I'm currently not familiar with inner workings of libzmq enough detailed to be confident to rewrite it, although I'm reading the docs and code day by day.
> My time to spend is questionable, sometimes I have a lot of time and sometimes I cannot contribute for days or even weeks.
> 
> There are also many aspects of libzmq which make it hard to adopt the code, instead requiring complete rewrite:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 2017-05-18 20:29 GMT+02:00 Jens Auer <jens.auer at betaversion.net <mailto:jens.auer at betaversion.net> <mailto:jens.auer at betaversion.net <mailto:jens.auer at betaversion.net>>>:
> 
> 
>     Hi,
> 
>     I would be happy to contribute to such a project, even if many users
>     will stay with the "old" code. For me, it is a great way to learn
>     something. I would also be happy to aim for C++14 or even C++17 once
>     it is officially released. I think structured bindings and the new
>     if (init; condition)  will be very helpful. C++17 also has
>     std::optional.
> 
>     Cheers,
>     Jens
> 
>     -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
>     Von: zeromq-dev [mailto:zeromq-dev-bounces at lists.zeromq.org <mailto:zeromq-dev-bounces at lists.zeromq.org>
>     <mailto:zeromq-dev-bounces at lists.zeromq.org <mailto:zeromq-dev-bounces at lists.zeromq.org>>] Im Auftrag von Aram
>     Santogidis
>     Gesendet: Donnerstag, 18. Mai 2017 10:57
>     An: ZeroMQ development list
>     Betreff: Re: [zeromq-dev] Porting libzmq to C++11
> 
>     Hi,
> 
>     a good reason to modernize the codebase, or even better to create a
>     new project ala libzmq11, is to help its evolution with new
>     networking technologies and software engineering practices.
> 
>     As an example, consider the difficulties many faced (including
>     myself) in extending ZeroMQ to support RDMA-based networking
>     interfaces. The current design and implementation is hostile to such
>     extensions.
>     Honestly, C++98 or not, I think it still can be done but with major
>     cost in development effort and additional complexity to an already
>     complex codebase.
> 
>     Moving to C++11 and beyond is not merely an argument of fashion, as
>     some of you implied, but it is vital for its future.
>     C++ and related technologies evolve and libzmq stays behind. New
>     developers are reluctant to contribute once they have a look at the
>     current design and implementation (old school C++ roughly speaking).
> 
>     Think for example when networking will be included in the standard,
>     how much ugly code that juggles platform differences could be
>     eliminated from the current implementation. Same applies for
>     threading, which is in the standard since C++11.
> 
>     I don't underestimate the importance (and the size?) of the current
>     userbase. I'm aware from first-hand experience about some fairly
>     critical software that relies on libzmq.
> 
>     I guess the idea is to create i) a new project in the ZeroMQ
>     organization that ii) implements ZMTP and iii) the non-depricated
>     ZMQ socket types. The public API of libzmq should be a subset of the
>     libzmq11 so that will facilitate the transition of users, in the
>     long term, that do not run on legacy systems.
> 
>     I will happily contribute to such an effort provided that there will
>     be at least one or two experienced members from the community that
>     will join this effort.
> 
>     Cheers,
>     Aram
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     On 17.05.2017 16:54, BJovke . wrote:
>      > Well, you're right. There must be a good reason for such an
>     undertaking.
>      > I too feel that C++11 itself is not good enough reason.
>      > Anyway there has to be enough people willing to contribute to it.
>      >
>      > I was just saying this because no idea should be discarded right
>     away,
>      > but for sure there needs to be a valid need and reason for it.
>      >
>      > Greetings.
>      >
>      > 2017-05-17 16:15 GMT+02:00 Doron Somech <somdoron at gmail.com <mailto:somdoron at gmail.com>
>     <mailto:somdoron at gmail.com <mailto:somdoron at gmail.com>>
>      > <mailto:somdoron at gmail.com <mailto:somdoron at gmail.com> <mailto:somdoron at gmail.com <mailto:somdoron at gmail.com>>>>:
>      >
>      >     What will be the benefit from moving to C++11? And more important
>      >     what is the benefit from having two projects? one supporting
>     C++11
>      >     and one not?
>      >
>      >     I think that maintaining two repositories is hard and not
>     sure for
>      >     what cause?
>      >
>      >     Anyway, if some one want to do it, in the zeromq philosophy,
>     please
>      >     fork and add the project to the zeromq organization.
>      >
>      >     On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 4:29 PM, <lists at chuckremes.com <mailto:lists at chuckremes.com>
>     <mailto:lists at chuckremes.com <mailto:lists at chuckremes.com>>
>      >     <mailto:lists at chuckremes.com <mailto:lists at chuckremes.com> <mailto:lists at chuckremes.com <mailto:lists at chuckremes.com>>>>
>     wrote:
>      >
>      >
>      >         > On May 17, 2017, at 7:56 AM, BJovke . <bjovan at gmail.com <mailto:bjovan at gmail.com>
>     <mailto:bjovan at gmail.com <mailto:bjovan at gmail.com>> <mailto:bjovan at gmail.com <mailto:bjovan at gmail.com>
> 
>     <mailto:bjovan at gmail.com <mailto:bjovan at gmail.com>>>> wrote:
>      >         >
>      >         > Hello.
>      >         >
>      >         > Libzmq is not even fully C++ compliant:
>      >         >   - There's no exception handling.
>      >         >   - There are no RAII principles implemented.
>      >         >   - Parent/child object hierarchy is loose or not
>     implemented, all of the burden of proper order of calls is on
>     programmer.
>      >         >
>      >         > And so on...
>      >         >
>      >         > C++11 is really a remarkable feat of engineering and me
>     personally like to see fully C++11 implemented software.
>      >         > Unfortunately, for libzmq this would require
>     substantial rewrite of the library.
>      >         >
>      >         > Maybe there's an option to create another parallel
>     branch to existing libzmq or even create another product, for
>     example "libzmq11"?
>      >         > On the wire this could be 100% compatible with
>     non-C++11 libzmq but there would be 0% chance to compile older
>     projects with it.
>      >
>      >         This is a good time to bring out some old blog posts. Martin
>      >         Sustrik was the original developer of libzmq. He had some
>      >         thoughts on why he should have written the library in C
>     instead
>      >         of C++. Here you go:
>      >
>      > http://250bpm.com/blog:4 <http://250bpm.com/blog:4>
>      >
>      > http://250bpm.com/blog:8 <http://250bpm.com/blog:8>
>      >
>      >
>      >
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>      >
>      > --
>      >
>      > Jovan Bunjevački.
>      >
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> 
> -- 
> 
> Jovan Bunjevački.
> 
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