Gregory Crosswhite wrote:
Hey everyone,
Is there a reason why Boost uses Boost.Jam/Boost.Build for reasons other than tradition? Does it have advantages over other build systems, in particular CMake (which I consider to be its main competitor)? Are there many people/projects who use Boost.Jam/Boost.Build outside of Boost?
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.
First, this question is better asked on the Boost.Build mailing list. (boost-build@lists.boost.org). Second, some high-level description and comparison with exising build tools can be found at http://syrcose.ispras.ru/2009/files/04_paper.pdf In summary, whilst CMake was around for considerably more time and has some features that Boost.Build has not yet caught up with, is also comes with various historic baggage, and does not even remote approximation of most interesting Boost.Build features, in particular portable build properties and multivariant builds. I believe it will take Boost.Build less time to catch up on missing features that it would take to beat CMake the other way around (if that's even possible). Let's continue on boost-build mailing list, if you're interested. - Volodya -- Vladimir Prus Mentor Graphics +7 (812) 677-68-40