[Boost-build] Generating C file from C file

Subject: [Boost-build] Generating C file from C file
From: Nogradi, Chris (Chris.Nogradi_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-02-24 17:40:05

I am attempting to generate a C file from another C file and then create a library from the generated sources (~2000 files). I tried this and it causes bjam to use massive amounts of memory and time:

type.register GEN_C : : C ;

generators.register-standard gen.generate : C : GEN_C(GEN_%) ;

rule generate ( targets * : sources * : properties * )
{
}

actions generate
{
    "gen_c.py"  -f $(>) -o $(<)
}

rule gen_lib ( main-target-name : sources + : requirements *  : default-build * : usage-requirements * )
{
    for local file in $(sources)
    {
        gen-c $(file:B) : $(file) ;
        files += $( file:B) ;
    }
    lib $(main-target-name) : $(files) : $(requirements) <implicit-dependency>$(files:B) : $(default-build) : $(usage-requirements) ;
}

gen_lib lib : [ glob *.c ] ;

There is obviously a better solution.  Can someone suggest what to do here?  I looked at the custom generator example in the manual and I am not sure it will do what I want.  Can someone confirm that custom generators are the right choice here? Will this solve the memory and time problem?

Thanks,

Chris

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