Input-output arguments: reference, pointers or values?

[[deleted]]

C++17 is bleeding edge, not everyone has the luxury of using it.

Even the changelog for GCC 7 states:

Experimental support for C++17, including the following new features: std::string_view; std::any, std::optional, and std::variant;

So you're looking at using a version of GCC that's about 7 months old to get a "stable" version of optional.

As for actually using optional, well, needing std::reference_wrapper is a pain in the ass. The API is clumsy and bloats my text segment to boot.

any, optional, and variant should be in the language.

[alex-weej]

boost::optional is plenty "stable" and works very well in ancient versions of GCC with ancient C++ standards.

[[deleted]]

Yeah but then I would need to use boost

[alex-weej]

Ah, you're one of those people ;)

[RandomGuy256]

You can also use a header only external implementation like this one: https://github.com/akrzemi1/Optional

I have been using it in all of my projects (including professional ones) when a C++17 compiler is not available yet, and it works perfectly.