Re: [jamboost] Library file names

From: Rene Rivera (grafik.list_at_[hidden])
Date: 2003-11-26 08:20:17

Victor A. Wagner, Jr. wrote:

> I notice that if I do:
> C:\Projects\boost>bjam -sTOOLS=vc7.1 -sBUILD="debug release" 
> install >bjaminstall.log
> that I get a nice directory with a lot of interesting files in it... for 
> example:
> Directory of c:\boost\lib
> 
> 2003-11-24 19:11 <DIR> .
> 2003-11-24 19:11 <DIR> ..
> 2003-11-25 03:12 28,672 boost_date_time-vc71-mt-1_31.dll
> 2003-11-25 03:12 19,922 boost_date_time-vc71-mt-1_31.lib
> 2003-11-25 03:12 53,248 boost_date_time-vc71-mt-gd-1_31.dll
> 2003-11-25 03:12 20,032 boost_date_time-vc71-mt-gd-1_31.lib
> 2003-11-24 02:18 167,936 boost_python-vc71-mt-1_31.dll
> 
> there are, of course others... this is very nice

Thanks :-) All that is the new build+install system.

> btw, is there a document somewhere that tells me what the -mt (I'm guessing 
> multi-tasking)
> and the -gd (no guess here really) mean??

There have been various list messages about this once upon a time... See the 
"Getting Started" documented in CVS:

http://www.boost-consulting.com/boost/more/getting_started.html

It's not linked in yet, as I'm still working on it, should be done by the weekend.

> ----------except---------
> is it the intent to keep these names, particularly the "-1_31" part?
> It is easy to see why library developers might appreciate this, since they 
> could easily tell different versions apart, and even keep them in the same 
> directory.
> For users, it's a different story entirely. modifying make files (jam 
> files?) or worse, msvc .vcproj files each time a new boost comes out will 
> be a real PITA.

It's a needed PITA. Boost versions are likely never going to be binary 
compatible enough to make having unversioned names be a reality. Just like 
users will likely have to change there code to deal with changes from version 
to version, changing makefiles is an equivalent conscious decision.

> Also, has been coalescing the libraries such that users might be able to do 
> the equivalent of -l boostmt ??

Now that would be a PITA for Boost library developers.

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