Re: [Boost-build] Toolset information and version parameter

From: Vladimir Prus (ghost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2007-05-23 04:03:34

Edward Diener wrote:

> Vladimir Prus wrote:
>> On Tuesday 22 May 2007 23:37, Edward Diener wrote:
>>> I found the information about available toolsets in the detail section
>>> of the Boost documentation. I would like to recommend that this
>>> information be linked to from the area of the Configuration topic after
>>> the line explaining the 'using tool-name;' rule, else the user of Boost
>>> Build has no idea where to look for toolset information.
>> 
>> This is a good idea. Thanks!
>> 
>>> My second question has still not been answered so I will repeat it
>>> again. It regards the 'version' parameter of the 'using tool-name' rule.
>>>
>>> If the version parameter can be in any form, what is its purpose ?
>> 
>> Generally, so that you can configure several version of a toolset, and
>> be able to request a particular version.
> 
> But how does a version number which is "formless" tell Boost Build what
> to do ? 

In *general*, if you have two version of a toolchain:

        using gcc : first : g++-10 ;
        using gcc : second : g++-3.4 ;

then

        bjam gcc-first

will because "g++-10" binary to be used, and 

        bjam gcc-second will cause

"g++-3.4" binary to be used for compiling. There's no any special interpretation
of version string.

> As an example, suppose I write: 
> 
> using msvc : 7-1 ;
> 
> instead of
> 
> using msvc : 7.1
> 
> since both are valid evidently because the version number can have any
> form I like. What does 7-1 or 7.1 mean to Boost Build ? What does it so
> with the information in the 'version' parameter ?

In the particular case of msvc, version should be in the from "N.M", at
Boost.Build uses that to decide what options this particular msvc
supports, so that it does not pass 7.1 options to a 6.0 compiler.

- Volodya