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Importing .Net System.Globalization of into xtd - Reply by ChatGPT (internal)

I'm thinking of maybe adding an advanced version of CultureInfo as in .Net in xtd. I was thinking, to keep it simple. I could pull in the .Net grace data, consolidate it into a json or xml file and run it through xtd. Do you think this is usable or is it lame?

Is Your Approach Feasible?​

Your idea is far from clumsy! It’s a clever way to leverage a comprehensive dataset while remaining independent of .NET at runtime. Here are some thoughts to help you validate (or adjust) your plan:

Advantages of Your Approach:​

  1. Ease of Integration:

    • Extracting data from .NET (e.g., via CultureInfo and its methods) allows you to immediately benefit from a comprehensive culture database without reinventing the wheel.
    • Consolidating the data into a JSON/XML file simplifies data loading and management.

  2. Independence from .NET:

    • Once the data is extracted and stored, your implementation in xtd becomes entirely independent of .NET, which is a significant benefit for portability.

  3. Customization Options:

    • You could add specific features or tweaks in xtd without being constrained by .NET’s API.

  4. Controlled Performance:

    • Static data (JSON/XML) can be easily cached, minimizing runtime performance impact.

Potential Challenges and Solutions:​

  1. Data Volume:

    • The CultureInfo database is substantial. If you export all cultures and their associated formats (numbers, dates, currencies, calendars, etc.), the file might become large.
    • Solution:
      Include only the most common cultures by default and allow optional downloading of additional cultures.

  2. Synchronization with Updates:

    • Globalization data evolves over time (e.g., new cultures, monetary reforms, etc.).
    • Solution:
      Provide a script or automated tool in xtd to regenerate the JSON/XML file from .NET to keep the data up to date.

  3. Data Access Performance:

    • Reading and parsing JSON/XML can be slower compared to using an in-memory database.
    • Solution:
      Load the data into an optimized structure in memory (like a std::unordered_map) at runtime, or consider using a pre-compiled binary format to speed up loading.

  4. Platform-Specific Differences:

    • If targeting platforms with unique cultural specifics (e.g., macOS or Linux using ICU), ensure that data extracted from .NET doesn’t create inconsistencies.
    • Solution:
      Cross-check the extracted data with other sources, such as ICU, to avoid surprises on non-Windows platforms.

Concrete Steps to Implement This Idea:​

  1. Extract Data from .NET:

    • Use a C# application to iterate through all available cultures (CultureInfo.GetCultures(CultureTypes.AllCultures)) and export the necessary information (date formats, number formats, names, etc.) into a JSON or XML file.

  2. Design a Parser in xtd:

    • Implement a class (e.g., xtd::globalization::culture_info) to load and interpret this data. Include static methods like culture_info::get_current_culture() to mimic .NET.

  3. Optimization:

    • If file size becomes an issue, consider using a custom binary format or including only essential data (e.g., default formats for each culture).

  4. Add Unit Tests:

    • Verify that the generated formats in xtd match expected results for various cultures (especially for edge cases like decimal numbers, sorting, or calendars).

My Opinion:​

This solution is entirely viable, especially if you aim to offer an API similar to .NET. It would fill a gap in C++ while leveraging .NET's comprehensive data. As long as you anticipate challenges related to size and performance, this project could become one of the standout features of xtd. 😊

If you’d like me to help sketch a plan or an example extraction script, feel free to ask!