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

Subject: Re: [Boost-build] ./b2 install --prefix=<DIR> is not really helpful
From: Bruno Santos (bsantos_at_[hidden])
Date: 2012-02-23 19:47:18

On 23/02/2012, at 17:06, Fabien Chêne wrote:

> 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'.

I meant boost.build not boost, sorry. By properly installing I mean you got to 'tools/build/v2' do the bootstrap and install.