[boost] Request for a "Policy Review" regarding 'CMakeLists.txt'

Subject: [boost] Request for a "Policy Review" regarding 'CMakeLists.txt'
From: David Sankel (camior_at_[hidden])
Date: 2016-05-15 23:32:07

    A question has been brought up regarding whether or not a Boost library
author is permitted to include a 'CMakeLists.txt' file in the root of the
directory. This stemmed from a discussion at C++Now 2016 which included
several members of the Boost Steering Committee and a sampling of the Boost
community.

    We recommend and propose that the Boost Guidelines are modified to
allow library authors, at their own discretion, to include a
'CMakeLists.txt' file in their library's top-level directory.

    * Several libraries, such as Boost.Hana and Boost.Spirit, have two
distribution mechanisms: one as distributed with Boost and the other as an
independent package. The requirement that these libraries not include a
'CMakeLists.txt' as part of their Boost distribution creates a maintenance
burden for authors or otherwise hurts usability of the independent
distribution.

    * Several companies have revealed that they are building Boost with
their own custom CMake scripts. The suggested policy change would enable
authors to relieve the infrastructure cost of their CMake users and unify
how their library is built.

    * CMake is, by far, the most popular build system for C++. Allowing
authors to support CMake users in addition to BJam will help the Boost
ecosystem to grow and thrive by lowering the barriers to access.

-- David Sankel