[Boost-users] Unit Test Framework for non-boost projects?

From: Steven T. Hatton (hattons_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-09-04 05:22:18

I believe I figured out how the examples in the 'subproject 
libs/test/example ;' are being compiled.  Basically it goes like this:

bjam reads the Jamfile which contains this rule:

rule boost-test-example ( example-name : lib-name )
{
    exe $(example-name) : $(example-name).cpp <lib>../build/$(lib-name)
                        : <sysinclude>$(BOOST_ROOT) 
                          <stlport-iostream>on 
                          <borland><*><cxxflags>-w-8080 ;
}

followed by a series of invocation of that rule such as:

boost-test-example unit_test_example1 : boost_unit_test_framework ;

The rule is evaluated by putting the first argument 'unit_test_example1' in 
the slot for the target name, and for the sources required to build.  In 
addition to unit_test_example1.cpp, the expression <lib>../build/$(lib-name) 
is evaluated to add the library resulting from compiling other source files.  
These are named by reading $(BOOST_ROOT)/libs/test/build/Jamfile and 
expanding the target:

lib boost_unit_test_framework : <template>boost_test_lib
                                ../src/$(UTF_SOURCES).cpp ; 

The <template> adds some boiler-plate information and 
the ../src/$(UTF_SOURCES).cpp expands the following list:

UTF_SOURCES =
  execution_monitor
  test_tools
  unit_test_parameters
  unit_test_log
  unit_test_monitor
  unit_test_result
  unit_test_suite
  unit_test_main
  supplied_log_formatters
  ;

to create a list of file names of the form:

../src/execution_monitor.cpp

If the library does not already exists, these are compiled, and the results 
are placed in the location specified by this directive:

install test lib
    :
        [ unless $(NT) :
            <dll>boost_prg_exec_monitor
            <dll>boost_test_exec_monitor
            <dll>boost_unit_test_framework ]
        <lib>boost_prg_exec_monitor
        <lib>boost_test_exec_monitor
        <lib>boost_unit_test_framework
    ;
Since they have already been compiled, bjam tells the compiler to link against 
them.

After rebuilding all of boost and installing the headers and libraries to the 
default location, I am now able to compile one of the examples as follows:

g++ -o unit_test_example5 unit_test_example5.cpp\ 
-lboost_unit_test_framework-gcc

I don't fully understand why I need the -l switch, but adding it enabled the 
linker to succeed.

I assume I could find a way to modify the above mentioned Jamfiles to do 
basically the same thing in my project directory, but the step of specifying 
the sources with which to build the libraries seems inappropriate for using 
the Unit Test Framework in my own project.

How do I tell bjam to link against the correct library file? 
-- 
Regards,
Steven