Re: [boost] Why Boost.Build?

Subject: Re: [boost] Why Boost.Build?
From: Gregory Crosswhite (gcross_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-03-26 14:19:54

Thanks, Bjørn!

- Greg

On 3/26/11 1:29 PM, Bjørn Roald wrote:
> On 03/26/2011 04:08 PM, Gregory Crosswhite wrote:
>> Hey everyone,
>>
>> Is there a reason why Boost uses Boost.Jam/Boost.Build for reasons 
>> other than tradition? 
>
> Boost.Build works great for those around here caring enough to 
> maintain a build system for boost.  Also it seams to work well enough 
> that a new build system is not a top priority for people willing to do 
> something about it.  That said I think the fact that it is not as 
> common and well known as some alternatives, and that it is missing 
> some features people are expecting causes people to ask for CMake.
>
>> Does it have advantages over other build systems, in particular CMake 
>> (which I consider to be its main competitor)?
>
> CMake is not a build system. CMake is a meta build system tool that 
> takes a platform independent meta description of a build system and 
> generate your platform specific build systems based on it.  It seems 
> CMake or CMake scripts needs a fair bit of tweaks to replace 
> Boost.Build.  Trying to make a Boost.Build killer out of CMake has 
> taken years by some dedicated people around here, and they are clearly 
> not done.
>
>>   Are there many people/projects who use Boost.Jam/Boost.Build 
>> outside of Boost?
>
> I have no idea, but there are some that enjoy its features - yes.
>
>> These questions are asked purely out of curiosity due to my ignorance 
>> of Boost.Jam/Boost.Build, not because I have an axe to grind.
>
> In my opinion, I would like to see efforts to make boost build 
> generate CMake scripts and/or visa versa.
>