[Boost-build] Python port (Was: bjam memory consumption)

From: Vladimir Prus (ghost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-04-17 04:11:05

On Monday 17 April 2006 00:40, Tomas Puverle wrote:

> I like python too (even though I wish it supported threading a bit better,
> but that's a post for another thread).  However, (in my limited sample
> space of 1 - Scons) I've seen a python based build system that performs
> very poorly.

It should be discussed what exactly do we want to port to Python. Overall, 
bjam *build engine* is not bad. It's hacky at some places but we had no real 
issues with it.

It's the levels build on top of jam language that are scary. For example, the 
classes mechanism is a complete hack. And non-ref-counted strings eat memory.
So, it's mostly needed to port higher-level parts into Python. Replacing 
half-baked class in Jam language with real class in Python can only improve 
performance.

When the Python port was initially discussed, we though that eventually we'll 
use SCons as underlying build engine. However, the fact that KDE dropped 
porting to SCons in part due to performance reasons makes using SCons less 
desirable.

- Volodya

-- 
Vladimir Prus
http://vladimir_prus.blogspot.com
Boost.Build V2: http://boost.org/boost-build2