[Boost-build] symlink and explicit?

From: Jordan Rosenthal (jr_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-09-08 08:31:34

Hi,

Often, I create symbolic links to targets after they are built to ease 
development efforts (FYI: I'm on Linux using the gcc toolset).  I used 
to do this manually but I thought I'd take a crack at making boost-build 
v2 do it for me.  After poking around, I found symlink.jam and a related 
rule that sort of does the job for me, but I ran into a problem.  I 
can't figure out how to make a symlink "target" explicit.  Here is an 
example:

#----------------------
exe program1 : sources1 ;
exe program2 : sources2 ;
explicit program2 ;

symlink prog1 : program1 ;
symlink prog2 : program2 ;
#----------------------

When building, both programs and symlinks get made, despite the explicit 
nature of program2.  My intention is that both program2 and its 
associated link only get made on demand.

Does anybody have an idea how to fix this, or an alternative approach to 
what I'm trying to do?  I thought about simply using the install rule, 
but I don't want to make another copy of my large programs.

Thanks,

Jordan Rosenthal