title: Explain boost::filesystem's portable generic path format in C++
body: <p>I am trying to understand <a href="http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_43_0/libs/filesystem/doc/reference.html#Pathname-formats" rel="nofollow noreferrer">portable generic path format</a> and everything is not clicking. Can someone please explain this in terms of examples? I also have been told that I can use the forward slash in windows because windows understands both. Also is it considered good/safe style to use forward slash in windows?</p>