Re: [jamboost] Build request interface

From: Vladimir Prus (ghost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-06-28 07:51:28

David Abrahams wrote:

> > Okay with me.
> > But... Can we handle command line arguments? Won't they be
>
> unconditionally
>
> > treated as target names by jam?
>
> It's easy enough to cause the argument to be turned into a NOTFILE target
> with no special updating actions.

Heck! It's not that easy. For example

bjam debug

Yes, we can create NOTFILE target called "debug" but jam will then try to 
update only that target, instread of updating all, which is desired. I can 
suggest these solutions 

1. Make targets like "debug" depend on "all" if there are no explicit targets 
in the command line.

2. Introduce new "TOUCH" builtin and apply it to the "all" target is there 
are no explicit targets in the command line.

3. Introduce new variable, say "TARGETS_TO_UPDATE". Initialize them from 
command line as usual. When running updating actions, consult this variable. 
This way, Jam code will be able to modify the set of target that should be 
updated. 

I think approach 3 is the most reasonable. All others looks more like ugly 
workarounds to me. What do you think?

- Volodya