Re: [boost] Switch to CMake -- Analysis

Subject: Re: [boost] Switch to CMake -- Analysis
From: Joseph Van Riper (fleeb.fantastique_at_[hidden])
Date: 2017-07-21 18:47:33

On Fri, Jul 21, 2017 at 1:24 PM Andrey Semashev via Boost <
boost_at_[hidden]> wrote:

>
> Actually, as a user I do care and not in favor of CMake because there is
> always a possibility that Boost requires a newer CMake version that is
> not available on my platform.
>

This, too, concerns me.

b2 builds on everything, and is included in every boost distribution.  It
is apparently built with such consideration that I can use it on
ridiculously old versions of gcc without breaking a sweat.

In cyber security, when training individuals, you find yourself using
ridiculously old machines.  We need, therefore, to be able to build
software on these old machines.

Watching this decision play out, I have concerns that I won't be able to do
things like build boost on a 10-year-old distribution of debian using
static libraries (so they work on all distributions based on this debian
release), while also building boost for Windows XP on VC++ 2013 in a way
that allows certain projects with fiddly settings compiler properly, yet
still build for other version of Windows on the more recent compilers with
more sane settings.

I fully expect turbulence in the coming conversion to CMake for my
admittedly non-standard setup.

My hope is that this happens in at a measured pace allowing for edge cases
line mine to weigh in without stopping newer fixes and contributions from
entering the distribution.

If there's some way I can set up a series of automated tests, I'd like to
help.

(Yes, observant folks might notice that I've mentioned this before, and
appeared not to follow up... I did actually try to set up automated
testing, but ran into problems, then failed to follow up with anyone about
those problems because I got distracted by my job... but if this is moving
to CMake, I expect I need to help).

- Trey