Simple method for serialization

[morinim]

Probably the best way is via boost::serialization (but we have to give more careful consideration to Google Protocol Buffer).

Some resources to check:

• http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/serialization.html
• http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/aix/library/au-boostserialization/index.html?ca=drs-
• http://code.google.com/intl/it/apis/protocolbuffers/docs/cpptutorial.html

[morinim]

There could be problems with boost::serialization and classes using boost::any. See https://stackoverflow.com/a/3672347/3235496

[morinim]

THERE IS NOT A SIMPLE WAY...

We have changed boost::any with boost::variant and it works.

Now boost doesn't support std::shared_ptr serialization. Although it isn't hard to change std::shared_ptr with boost::shared_ptr, I'm not convinced anymore that boost::serialization is the best way to go.

Probably custom solution...

[morinim]

Now using a custom, text-based, solution.

Some observations:

• any serialization is a non-problem (see commit 9d93e67)
• the general approach is to avoid boost dependencies