By Dean Michael Berris
Expert Author
Article Date: 2011-04-28
After the one-week beta period for the 0.9.0 release, I'm happy to announce that the official 0.9.0 release is now available for general availability at the Github project downloads page. This 0.9.0 release is the first version of the library to be submitted for review to the Boost C++ Library project. Most changes that happened from the beta to the official release involve adding debugging information to critical parts of the server and client implementations as well as documentation and Boost.Build system updates.
This release series will be supported until April 2012, which means all new development for the 1.0 line will happen on a different branch and will continue to contain new implementations and interface-breaking changes over the 0.9.x line. Currently the roadmap for the library is still in flux, but if you're interested in putting in feature requests you can file them through the Github project issues page. Soon enough a wiki page containing the roadmap for the 1.0 release with updated milestones will be released for public availability.Help Wanted
At this time I would also like to announce that I am currently looking for help in various aspects of the project namely:
- Website
- Documentation
- Testing
- Development
This is mostly due to the fact that I've just recently started work at Google Australia, and may not be able to work on the library on a full-time basis. I'll transition more into a maintainer role and will still be doing most of the development on high-impact items.
New Protocols
The 1.0 line will get the HTTP implementation into a state of stability, which should allow other protocols to enter the library. Those that are highest on the list of priority protocols are:
The focus for 1.0 will be to implement other protocols so that the generic parts of the implementation can be lifted. Also, better installation and integration support for users that might not like the header-only nature of the library along with better customization points for tweaking implementation details would have to be made available as well.
The 1.0 line will be dealing with making the library more flexible in the facilities it uses to achieve the designs it uses. There are a number of other performance and usability points which will have to be addressed to make cpp-netlib adoption in more projects easier.
The Road Ahead
Along with a stability push, the goal for the cpp-netlib project is to attempt to build a community which mimics the Boost C++ Library process, with a more open development/contribution model. The C++ Network Library Project will be started officially with moves to make collaboration and further development of the code a more inviting and more open process. Once these preparations are in place, I'll be announcing what the plan for the foreseeable future of the library and the project will be like.
At the moment the library is looking to adopt other projects that would be useful in the context of a modern C++ library that deals with network-related programming. In the end the goal is to ultimately allow for developing both server and client services that talk in different (and maybe custom) protocols easily with the C++ Network Library. Along with this is an attempt to get the library into Boost as well as maybe part of the Standard C++ Libraries.It's good times ahead - I hope to be able to deliver more good news with cpp-netlib development from here down under.
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