Re: [Boost-build] ./b2 install --prefix=<DIR> is not really helpful

Subject: Re: [Boost-build] ./b2 install --prefix=<DIR> is not really helpful
From: Fabien Chêne (fabien.chene_at_[hidden])
Date: 2012-02-23 12:06:53

2012/2/23 Bruno Santos <bsantos_at_[hidden]>:
>
> On 23/02/2012, at 15:51, Fabien Chêne wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Using BoostBuild basically requires two things: the binary (bjam or
>> b2), and the path to the 'library" (the BOOST_BUILD_PATH). The first
>> thing to do is to invoke (on Linux) bootstrap.sh. Then a message is
>> printed:
>>
>> Bootstrapping the build engine with toolset gcc... engine/bin.linuxx86_64/bjam
>> Bootstrapping is done. To build and install, run:
>>    ./b2 install --prefix=<DIR>
>>
>> It installs the binary and a build directory is copied. Unfortunately,
>> it does not seem appropriate to be used by the BOOST_BUILD_PATH or the
>> boost-build.jam. Instead, the parent directory should be installed --
>> the one that contains the file bootstrap.jam.
>>
>> Furthermore, I tried ./b2 install --prefix=~/DIR. It resulted in a new
>> directory called '~', in the current directory, which shall contain
>> the whole set of files. Since it is a bit risky to safely remove this
>> unexpected newly created directory, I would expect a different
>> behaviour here. However, I'm not sure this is BoostBuild fault,
>> perhaps I should have quoted the --prefix parameter like that:
>> "~/DIR".
>>
>> What do you make of it ?
>
> You should put the full path if you use the prefix option. Don't expect the boost build to interpret ~  as your home directory, that's a feature from the shell and not the OS file system.

Hmm, the ~ shall be interpreted first by the shell, then passed to the
script. I think I was using the emacs mode shell, this is more likely
related to that.

> Regarding the BOOST_BUILD_PATH/boost-build.jam, if you install boost the proper way it will copy the core to '$(prefix)/share/boost-build' and the engine will look there, you don't need BOOST_BUILD_PATH/boost-build.jam to tell it where to find it.

Well, I don't want to build Boost, I just want to install BoostBuild
in order to build another project. Consequently, ./b2 install --prefix
is what I am looking for, provided it install the whole set of files,
not just the subdirectory 'build'.

Thanks,

-- 
Fabien