Better regression testing

From: Beman Dawes (beman_at_[hidden])
Date: 2000-12-24 16:47:56

Jens Maurer has contributed a new regression test program, regression.cpp, 
to replace regrtest.py.  It has been checked into the CVS (in libs 
subdirectory.)

Jens' program has several key advantages:

*  It is driven by configuration files, allowing use in multiple 
contexts.  For example, there could be both the main set of boost 
regression tests, and further domain library tests.  The configuration 
files also make it much easier to add additional compilers, operating 
systems, or program tests.

*  It supports multiple test types:

     - compile only, should succeed
     - compile only, should fail
     - compile + link, should succeed
     - compile + link, should fail
     - compile + link + run, should succeed
     - compile + link + run, should fail

*  It is written in very standard C++, and so doesn't require Python 
availability.

In addition to these major advantages, there is a reasonable chance that 
the approach can be extended to do library builds.

For a sample output, see: 
http://cvs.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/~checkout~/boost/libs/cs-win32.html?rev=1.11&content-type=text/html&cvsroot=boost

Lots of thanks to Jens!  (Dave Abrahams, Beman Dawes, John Maddock, and 
Jeremy Siek also contributed ideas.)

--Beman