Re: [Boost-users] Distributing Boost.Program_options

From: Vladimir Prus (ghost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2007-05-24 05:52:08

Chris Thachuk wrote:

> Hello all,
> 
> I'm a first time user of boost libraries and I'm finding them
> extremely useful.  I will be incorporating their use into a number of
> open source research projects.  I've searched the archives on how to
> distribute the boost source with my code.  It seems the bcp tool is
> the way to go for this, however, I'm confused on how to use it for my
> purpose.
> 
> I would like to keep the code as portable as possible without users
> needing to install additional libraries on their own.  Since most of
> the boost libraries are all contained in header files, it seems easy
> to distribute.  However, I always getting linking errors unless I
> link against a pre-built library for Boost.Program_options.
> 
> Is it necessary for this library to be built first, then linked against?

Yes.

> How could I use the 'bcp' tool to grab the needed Boost dependencies
> for my project?

I don't have a pointer handy; but I think bcp docs say that.

> Can I use a standard make file as the users wouldn't have bjam
> installed?

No. You can either distribute prebuilt binaries, or you can include
both bjam and boost.build in your project, and have a shell
script to build bjam and then build necessary boost library.

- Volodya