[Boost-build] rule execution order

Subject: [Boost-build] rule execution order
From: Stefan Seefeld (stefan_at_[hidden])
Date: 2016-10-16 16:55:34

Hello,

I have managed to write a rule "numpy" that builds the numpy documentation.

I invoke that rule explicitly in my doc's Jamfile. The output I get from
running `.../b2` tells me that the "numpy" rule is executed before
anything else, and the individual commands appear out-of-order. For
example, I get this output:

$ ../../../b2
building numpy docs
running sphinx-build
Performing configuration checks

    - 32-bit                   : no  (cached)
    - 64-bit                   : yes (cached)
    - arm                      : no  (cached)
    - mips1                    : no  (cached)
    - power                    : no  (cached)
    - sparc                    : no  (cached)
    - x86                      : yes (cached)
    - symlinks supported       : yes (cached)
...patience...
...patience...
...found 3780 targets...
...updating 1 target...

Why is the "numpy" rule executed before even configuration has taken
place (and how can I fix that) ?

And, an issue that I suspect is related to the above: As can be seen in
the "numpy" definition
(https://github.com/stefanseefeld/boost.python/commit/420278c3a74108aa109ff913b14fec9806008b01#diff-bd663991b879b8c98d283dad74d2dd5bR27),
following Steven's suggestion I'm using the "install" rule to copy the
source files into the build directory, where I invoke the "make" command
via the "SHELL" rule, before issuing another "install" to get the
generated html files back to the final destination. Invoking this yields
the error

...

$ ../../../b2
building numpy docs
running sphinx-build
sh: line 0: cd: ../../../bin.v2/libs/python/doc/numpy: No such file or
directory
Performing configuration checks
...

which demonstrates that the copying of the source files into the build
directory hasn't been done by the point where I invoke the sphinx build
(which includes a "cd"). Does the "install" rule merely register an
action to be performed later, while my rule above expects it to be done
"imperatively" ?

Any idea what I'm missing ? Should I use some other means to copy my
files around ?

Thanks for your help,

        Stefan

-- 
      ...ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin...