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

From: Edward Diener (eldiener_at_[hidden])
Date: 2007-05-23 10:27:21

Vladimir Prus wrote:
> 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.

OK, now I understand that the 'version' is just a way of letting the 
user specify the toolset to be used when the base toolset name is the 
same in more than one using rule.

> 
>> 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.

Now this appears to be different from the case above as you are actually 
using the 'version' string for other purposes.

I think documenting such things as you have explained here regarding 
'version' should be done in the Boost Build documentation.

Thanks for your help.