[Boost-build] b2 - what does this message mean? "error: No best alternative for"

Subject: [Boost-build] b2 - what does this message mean? "error: No best alternative for"
From: Paul A. Bristow (pbristow_at_[hidden])
Date: 2019-04-02 09:09:02

I have been checking some jamfiles, and wanted to test that a program (here a hello-worldly examples using chrono).

I wanted to check that I could build using both a pre-built library in the usual boost/lib location

     <library>/boost/chrono//boost_chrono

run hello_boost_chrono_library.cpp ; # Use pre-built library.

and also using a build-now library version

run hello_boost_chrono_library.cpp /boost/chrono//boost_chrono ; # Build using a built-now library.

Both run commands work on their own, but not nicely together, as I naively expected.

Command: b2 -a -j16 address-model=64 toolset=msvc-14.1,msvc-14.2,gcc-8.1.0,clang-win-7.0.1,clang-win-8.0.0 release

I got several variants of warnings like this:

"Performing configuration checks

    - default address-model    : 32-bit
    - default architecture     : x86
    - symlinks supported       : yes
error: No best alternative for ./hello_boost_chrono_library
    next alternative: required properties: (empty)
        matched
    next alternative: required properties: (empty)
        matched
"

which I find inscrutable and puzzling.

The result is 5 passes, one for each compiler.  I had hoped for 10 passes, 2 runs for each.

Am I simply doing something that should not work?

Paul

---
Paul A. Bristow
Prizet Farmhouse
Kendal UK LA8 8AB
[phone]