Re: [Boost-build] --toolset worries

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2007-05-16 13:25:40

on Tue May 15 2007, Vladimir Prus <ghost-AT-cs.msu.su> wrote:

> Over at IRC, and on mailing list, it seems --toolset option confuses 
> folks -- they extrapolate the syntax and try to use "--link=static"
> and so on.
>
> I think we probably better either:
>
> 1. Rename --toolset to --autoconfigure-toolset, or something.
> It might be better to disable auto-configuration for "toolset=foo" syntax
> at the same time, to make "toolset" feature no longer "special".
>
> 2. Remove "--toolset" completely. Retain autoconfiguration
> for "toolset=foo" and tell users to use "toolset=foo".
>
> For reasons I don't understand, I prefer (2). Comments?

I don't have a strong opinion, but I think the presence of

  foo=xxx

and

  --bar=baz

or even just

   --bar

on the same command-line will be confusing.  New users don't have a
conceptual grasp of the difference between features and command-line
options, and even more experienced users can't keep track of all the
feature names.

-- 
Dave Abrahams
Boost Consulting
http://www.boost-consulting.com
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