[Boost-build] "os" versus "target-os"

Subject: [Boost-build] "os" versus "target-os"
From: Steve Soule (sts11dbxr_at_[hidden])
Date: 2010-04-23 20:46:27

I've noticed that many of the Jamfiles in Boost make use of the "os"
property.  For example, in libs/asio/example/http/client/Jamfile.v2,
this property is used to link in the right networking libraries and
define the appropriate defines depending on the os.  I haven't found any
documentation on the "os" property, but I would guess that it contains a
tag for the operating system on which the build is taking place.

Shouldn't these be using the "target-os" property rather than "os"?  I
would think that when you're cross-compiling, target-os and os could be
quite different, and you would want to link the appropriate libraries
for the target operating system, not the build operating system.