[Boost-users] how to build boost using mingw on windows?

Subject: [Boost-users] how to build boost using mingw on windows?
From: Ákos Maróy (akos_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-06-21 09:47:46

Hi,

This might be a frequent question asked, but I can't seem to find a 
proper response. I'm trying to build boost using the current version of 
mingw, from under msys, but I can't seem to make it work. I tried boost 
1.45.0 and 1.46.1 as well. here are my results:

boost 1.45.0:

akos_at_RAKKU /c/Users/akos/src/boost_1_45_0
$ ./bootstrap.sh --with-toolset=mingw --prefix=/c/Users/akos/usr
Building Boost.Jam with toolset mingw... 
tools/build/v2/engine/src/bin.ntx86/bjam
Unicode/ICU support for Boost.Regex?... not found.
Backing up existing Boost.Build configuration in project-config.jam.3
Generating Boost.Build configuration in project-config.jam...

Bootstrapping is done. To build, run:

     ./bjam

To adjust configuration, edit 'project-config.jam'.
Further information:

    - Command line help:
      ./bjam --help

    - Getting started guide:
      http://www.boost.org/more/getting_started/unix-variants.html

    - Boost.Build documentation:
      http://www.boost.org/boost-build2/doc/html/index.html

akos_at_RAKKU /c/Users/akos/src/boost_1_45_0
$ ./bjam
mingw.jam: No such file or directory
c:/Users/akos/src/boost_1_45_0/tools/build/v2/build\toolset.jam:38: in 
toolset.u
sing
rule mingw.init unknown in module toolset.
c:/Users/akos/src/boost_1_45_0/tools/build/v2/build\project.jam:881: in 
using
project-config.jam:12: in modules.load
c:/Users/akos/src/boost_1_45_0/tools/build/v2\build-system.jam:257: in 
load-conf
ig
c:/Users/akos/src/boost_1_45_0/tools/build/v2\build-system.jam:423: in 
load-conf
iguration-files
c:/Users/akos/src/boost_1_45_0/tools/build/v2\build-system.jam:554: in load
c:\Users\akos\src\boost_1_45_0\tools\build\v2/kernel\modules.jam:283: in 
import
c:\Users\akos\src\boost_1_45_0\tools\build\v2\kernel\bootstrap.jam:142: 
in boost
-build
c:\Users\akos\src\boost_1_45_0\boost-build.jam:17: in module scope

when trying boos 1.46.1:

akos_at_RAKKU /c/Users/akos/src/boost_1_46_1
$ ./bootstrap.sh --with-toolset=mingw --prefix=/c/Users/akos/usr
Building Boost.Jam with toolset mingw... 
tools/build/v2/engine/src/bin.ntx86/bja
m
Unicode/ICU support for Boost.Regex?... not found.
Generating Boost.Build configuration in project-config.jam...

Bootstrapping is done. To build, run:

     ./bjam

To adjust configuration, edit 'project-config.jam'.
Further information:

    - Command line help:
      ./bjam --help

    - Getting started guide:
      http://www.boost.org/more/getting_started/unix-variants.html

    - Boost.Build documentation:
      http://www.boost.org/boost-build2/doc/html/index.html

akos_at_RAKKU /c/Users/akos/src/boost_1_46_1
$ ./bjam
mingw.jam: No such file or directory
c:/Users/akos/src/boost_1_46_1/tools/build/v2/build\toolset.jam:38: in 
toolset.u
sing
rule mingw.init unknown in module toolset.
c:/Users/akos/src/boost_1_46_1/tools/build/v2/build\project.jam:886: in 
using
project-config.jam:12: in modules.load
c:/Users/akos/src/boost_1_46_1/tools/build/v2\build-system.jam:257: in 
load-conf
ig
c:/Users/akos/src/boost_1_46_1/tools/build/v2\build-system.jam:423: in 
load-conf
iguration-files
c:/Users/akos/src/boost_1_46_1/tools/build/v2\build-system.jam:554: in load
c:\Users\akos\src\boost_1_46_1\tools\build\v2/kernel\modules.jam:283: in 
import
c:\Users\akos\src\boost_1_46_1\tools\build\v2\kernel\bootstrap.jam:142: 
in boost
-build
c:\Users\akos\src\boost_1_46_1\boost-build.jam:17: in module scope

trying other settings, e.g. a toolset of gcc will not work :(

trying the bootstrap.bat file with the same command line parameters 
don't work, as they expect to find the MS C++ compiler, cl.

I googled this issue, but did not find a solution that would eventually 
work :(

I wonder what the proper process is to build boost on Windows using the 
current version of MingW.

Akos

PS: the gcc version I have is:

$ gcc --version
gcc.exe (GCC) 4.5.2
Copyright (C) 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.