Boost.Build and SCons

From: Pedro Ferreira (pedro.ferreira_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-12-13 11:17:41

Dear all,

I recently told Volodya I was going to spend some time experimenting 
the integration between Boost.Build and SCons.
Unfortunately, I have been flooded with urgent tasks so I still haven't 
managed to spend more than an hour or so doing this.
I see interest from many of us in pursuing such an integration so I 
think we need to debate where are we going to and which path should we 
choose.

My vision is:
- create a 100% Python Boost.Build library on top of SCons
- create a parser for the bjam language

This would allow people to use Jamfiles but would provide a Python 
interface to Boost.Build, which would open way to a myriad of tools, 
such as graphical browsers/creators, builder GUIs, etc.

The integration with SCons can be done:
- at the SCons.Environment level, calling builder methods to create BB 
virtual targets
- at the lower level Node ADT interface

I really don't like SCons Enviroments because they are too cluttered 
with functions, are too unwieldy, load all tools by default, etc.
So I prefer the second approach: it provides all the functionality bjam 
provides (and more) and fits very well with BB's architecture.

Regarding the approach, I see two possibilities:
- do a progressive transition from bjam to Scons, keeping it working at 
all times
- port everything from the ground up to Python until eventually it is 
complete

Just out of curiosity, I tried to port generators.jam to Python. It's 
40k worth of bjam code and I did it in afternoon, including some unit 
tests and adapting the comments do Python doc strings.
So, my feeling is that it would be more efficient to go the latter way.

I'm willing to invest a reasonable amount of time in this effort, 
should others be interested in collaborating too.
Comments are welcome.

Regards,

Pedro