Proposal to combine basic_FOO and FOO.hpp

/*

    A proposal to reduce io2d's namespace, by combining 'basic_FOO' and 'FOO' typenames, to 'FOO'

    Author: David Ludwig <dludwig@pobox.com>
    Version: 1


    Many io2d classes have two typenames, each of which is present on all platforms.
    These typenames take two forms, 'basic_FOO' and 'FOO' (for a variety of 'FOO's).
    For example, given a FOO of 'path_builder', there are two type names:
    
     1. basic_path_builder
     2. path_builder

    I propose that we combine as many of these typenames as possible.  Following
    the above example (with 'path_builder'), this would mean that:
    
     a. the 'basic_path_builder' typename would be removed
     b. the 'path_builder' typename would remain, but would (almost certainly) be
        modified
     c. there would be no loss of functionality, however an API break (in io2d)
        would occur


    Per-platorm differences, I believe (currently), should be represented via
    one or more 'devices' (the name of which seems very negotiable; for the
    sake of consistency, for now, 'device' will be used).  'device' may be
    subclass-able, however, consideration of upcoming C++ Concepts should,
    perhaps, be taken into account.


    (Question for future selves: Should 'device' be broken down into smaller chunks?)

*/



namespace io2d {

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// High-level structs:

struct device {
    device() = delete;      // cannot be instantiated
    ...;
}

struct generic_device : device {     // instantiate-able on any platform, but might not attach to any i/o hardware
    ...
};


/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Specific i/o platforms:

#if MAC
struct coregraphics_device : device {
    ...
};
typedef coregraphics_device default_device;

#elif WIN32
struct win32_device : device {
    ...
};
typedef win32_device default_device;

#else
typedef generic_device default_device;

#endif


/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Example of 'basic_FOO' to just 'FOO', for a FOO of 'path_builder'

template <typename Device=default_device>
struct path_builder {
    ...
};

// Note the lack of 'basic_path_builder'.  I.e., one less bit of
// clutter, in the io2d namespace.

};  // namespace

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Goal achieved?: Combined 'basic_FOO' and 'FOO', into just 'FOO', //
//           via experimentation on 'io2d::path_builder'            //
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////