Boost C++ Libraries

...one of the most highly regarded and expertly designed C++ library projects in the world. — Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu, C++ Coding Standards

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Chapter 49. Boost.Build User Manual

Table of Contents

Installation
Tutorial
Hello, world
Properties
Project Hierarchies
Dependent Targets
Static and shared libraries
Conditions and alternatives
Prebuilt targets
Overview
Concepts
Boost.Jam Language
Configuration
Invocation
Declaring Targets
Projects
The Build Process
Common tasks
Programs
Libraries
Alias
Installing
Testing
Custom commands
Precompiled Headers
Generated headers
Cross-compilation
Reference
General information
Builtin rules
Builtin features
Builtin tools
Builtin modules
Builtin classes
Build process
Definitions
Extender Manual
Introduction
Example: 1-to-1 generator
Target types
Tools and generators
Features
Main target rules
Toolset modules
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get the current value of feature in Jamfile?
I am getting a "Duplicate name of actual target" error. What does that mean?
Accessing environment variables
How to control properties order?
How to control the library linking order on Unix?
Can I get capture external program output using a Boost.Jam variable?
How to get the project root (a.k.a. Jamroot) location?
How to change compilation flags for one file?
Why are the dll-path and hardcode-dll-paths properties useful?
Targets in site-config.jam
Header-only libraries
What is the difference between Boost.Build, b2, bjam and Perforce Jam?

Installation

To install Boost.Build from an official release or a nightly build, as available on the official web site, follow these steps:

  1. Unpack the release. On the command line, go to the root of the unpacked tree.
  2. Run either .\bootstrap.bat (on Windows), or ./bootstrap.sh (on other operating systems).
  3. Run 
    ./b2 install --prefix=PREFIX
    where PREFIX is a directory where you want Boost.Build to be installed.
  4. Optionally, add PREFIX/bin to your PATH environment variable.

If you are not using a Boost.Build package, but rather the version bundled with the Boost C++ Libraries, the above commands should be run in the tools/build directory.

Now that Boost.Build is installed, you can try some of the examples. Copy PREFIX/share/boost-build/examples/hello to a different directory, then change to that directory and run: 

PREFIX/bin/b2

A simple executable should be built.

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