Re: [Boost-build] gcc toolset options

From: Vladimir Prus (ghost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-11-26 04:49:20

On Sunday 26 November 2006 02:10, Rene Rivera wrote:
> Vladimir Prus wrote:
> > Hi,
> > the gcc toolset accepts the 'flavour' option, but does not make any use
> > of it. Why is it needed?
>
> Ah, what do you mean it doesn't use it? ... lines 90-103:
>
>      local condition ;
>      if $(flavor)
>      {
>          condition = [ common.check-init-parameters gcc
>
>              : version $(version)
>              : flavor $(flavor)
>
>              ] ;
>      }
>      else
>      {
>          condition = [ common.check-init-parameters gcc
>
>              : version $(version)
>
>              ] ;
>      }

I saw that, but that does not affect anything except for target directories 
and the full name of the toolset -- and does not effect any command lines at 
all.

> > Also, it accepts the 'archiver' option, and has this comment:
> >
> >     #~ If it's not a system gcc install we should adjust the various
> >     #~ programs as needed to prefer using the install specific versions.
> >     #~ This is essential for correct use of MinGW and for
> > cross-compiling.
> >
> > This is obviously important if there's no system 'ar'. However, is this
> > important when there is system 'ar' already? I don't think the 'ar' tool
> > does any thing that is target specific. Am I wrong?
>
> I don't know if you are wrong or not :-\ But it makes sense that if a
> version specific install of gcc has its own 'ar' then the person
> installing it means for it to be used regardless of whether it does
> anything different than the system 'ar'. More technically 'ar' is meant
> to produce files that the linker can consume. If the linker is specific
> to the install, for example for cross-compilers, then it's essential
> that it use the cross-compile specific version as it *could* do
> something specific for the target platform.

Hmm, I guess I can put "specify this just in case" in docs, but it still does 
not feel right ;-)

- Volodya