+
+//
+// optional<T> vs T cases
+//
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator == ( optional<T> const& x, T const& y )
+{ return equal_pointees(x, optional<T>(y)); }
+
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator < ( optional<T> const& x, T const& y )
+{ return less_pointees(x, optional<T>(y)); }
+
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator != ( optional<T> const& x, T const& y )
+{ return !( x == y ) ; }
+
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator > ( optional<T> const& x, T const& y )
+{ return y < x ; }
+
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator <= ( optional<T> const& x, T const& y )
+{ return !( y < x ) ; }
+
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator >= ( optional<T> const& x, T const& y )
+{ return !( x < y ) ; }
+
+//
+// T vs optional<T> cases
+//
+
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator == ( T const& x, optional<T> const& y )
+{ return equal_pointees( optional<T>(x), y ); }
+
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator < ( T const& x, optional<T> const& y )
+{ return less_pointees( optional<T>(x), y ); }
+
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator != ( T const& x, optional<T> const& y )
+{ return !( x == y ) ; }
+
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator > ( T const& x, optional<T> const& y )
+{ return y < x ; }
+
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator <= ( T const& x, optional<T> const& y )
+{ return !( y < x ) ; }
+
+template<class T>
+inline
+bool operator >= ( T const& x, optional<T> const& y )
+{ return !( x < y ) ; }
+
+
+//
+// optional<T> vs none cases
+//
+