[Boost-build] [tutorial] How to create Jamfile to build a simple program linking against Boost library X?

Subject: [Boost-build] [tutorial] How to create Jamfile to build a simple program linking against Boost library X?
From: Mateusz Loskot (mateusz_at_[hidden])
Date: 2012-06-13 18:07:53

Hi,

Initially, the subject of my post was "Missing reference to /boost
project how-to",
because in the libs.html [1] page of the BB tutorial says

"For example, if /boost/filesystem//fs should be linked to all applications
in your project, you can add <library>/boost/filesystem//fs to the project's
requirements"

IMHO, it is quite important to add link or note where does the /boost
project come
from. Otherwise, it is a detail dangling without any explanation and may leave
reader confused.

But, I changed the subject to make my problem clearer.
For instance, someone new to BB tries to learn on:

"How to create Jamfile to build a simple program linking against Boost
library X?"

Now, I haven't touched Boost.Build for 2+ months, and previously having no
structured understanding where things come from in BB I panicked.
I said to myself, let's try and walk through the docs step by step...
It took me 'ages' to figure out this:

lib filesystem : : <name>libboost_filesystem <search>/usr/lib ;
exe a : a.cpp filesystem ;

It also would be helpful if two variants of simplest Jamfile are explained:
- without and with support of user-config.jam
So, the difference is clearly presented, thus user can understand the very
basics of what's user-config.jam role here.

[1] http://www.boost.org/boost-build2/doc/html/bbv2/tutorial/libs.html

Best regards,
-- 
Mateusz Loskot, http://mateusz.loskot.net