Re: [boost] Boost.Build changes for 1.38

Subject: Re: [boost] Boost.Build changes for 1.38
From: Chris (indy271828_at_[hidden])
Date: 2008-11-03 15:08:13

Ravi wrote:
> On Monday 03 November 2008 13:11:26 Chris wrote:
>   
>> I use many libraries, I learned bjam because I use boost in Windows and
>> linux.  I use ACE, fltk, and compile many.  Overall, I do not fully
>> trust any convention of INSTALL.txt and README.txt.  Sometimes they have
>> compilation instructions in README (fltk).  Or in ACE-INSTALL.html.  Or
>> on the website.  Or a text file refers to another source.  Or under
>> program option help (cmake openalsoft).
>>
>> If I have a configure, then I don't even read anything.   ./configure
>> --help to see options.  ./configure, make, sudo make install
>> If not, then I look at any binaries or special files in the directory
>> that tell me what type of build system it uses, or at any text files.  I
>> look for "To install, do this: ...".   I usually first ignore html
>> files, since I can't vi them.  (Sometimes I'm on the console or network.)
>>     
>
> I do not understand your point. As a mostly *nix user, here's my take:
>   
I gave my personal process for building anything in general, if boost 
development wanted to know.  The boost configure can be removed for me.  
If so, my preference is to have a plain text INSTALL.txt file because 
it's universal (if I don't have a browser).

> 1. Most users will use whatever their distribution provides (Linux, 
> OpenSolaris, etc.) and the distribution packagers will figure out that 
> bjam/cmake is what is required.
>   
The latest boost for ubuntu intrepid is 1.35.
Most of time time I don't bother because they are not the latest.   ACE: 
5.6.3  (latest is 5.6.6), fltk 1.1 (I use fltk 2).

> 2. For those that compile from source, the binaries will be installed in some 
> special place, and probably have some complex flags; these users are poorly 
> served by the presence of a configure script that does not exactly match their 
> expectations.
>   
Right, for example I disable python manually because the configure 
script can't automatically do it. (not fully installed)