Create An Environment to Build the C++ Boost Libraries in Windows for VS2013

Introduction

This project is intended for one to create an automated build environment to build the Boost libraries set to be used with VC++ in Visual Studio 2013.

I have created a set of make files to automate the build of the C++ Boost libraries using the `nmake` build tool that comes with Visual Studio. I have put the make files and other related files in github. The Github URL:

https://github.com/stevenong2006/BoostBuild_VisualStudio2013

I’ve also created a tutorial video and uploaded to youtube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2l845gH4xc&feature=youtu.be

For this version, I’ve tested with `boost_1_59_0` and Visual Studio 2013 community version. In a nutshell, the end product will be the Boost libraries set that built as the following flavors:

• static debug
• static release
• staticX64 debug
• static X64 release
• share debug
• share release
• shareX64 debug
• shareX64 release

The Boost libraries can either build as static or shared and Visual C++ projects can be configured as 32 bit or 64 bit. Also, the projects can be configured as debug or release. Since the Visual C++ linker is employing auto-link, depending on the current project configuration, it will look for a particular library name patterns to link with. The link will fail if the library with the particular name cannot be found.

As an example, to link with the `date time` static library in debug 32 mode, the linker will look for:

libboost_date_time-vc120-mt-sgd-1_59.lib

Whereas for the shared 64 release mode, it will look for:

boost_date_time-vc120-mt-1_59.lib

Preparation

The following softwares are needed to be installed properly prior to the build:

• Download and install github for windows. The URL:
  • https://windows.github.com/
• Download and install Visual Studio community version. The URL:
  • https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/visual-studio-community-vs.aspx
• Download and install the Microsoft Message Passing Interface (MS-MPI). The URL:
  • https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb524831%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
• Download and install python 2.7.x for Windows (I am using version 2.7.9). The URL:
  • https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-2710/
  • NOTE: Ensure that python folder is added to the %PATH% environment variable.
• Download and save the `boost_1_58_0` bundle (Make sure to download this ZIP file: “boost_1_59_0.zip” – The name is very important). The URL:
  • https://sourceforge.net/projects/boost/files/boost/1.59.0/

Procedure

Setup gihub and Clone the Repository

• You need to create an account in github and sign in using the `GitHub` program (If you not have an account in github yet, create one from https://github.com/).
• Start the `git shell` program and navigate to the folder where the Boost libraries are going to be built. Type this command to clone the repository locally:

  git clone https://github.com/stevenong2006/BoostBuild_VisualStudio2013.git

• As a result, the following folder/file hierarchy is created:
  • BoostBuild_VisualStudio2013 (folder)
    • src (folder)
      • 7z.dll
      • 7z.exe
      • bzip2-1.0.6.tar.gz
      • Expat2.1.0.zip
      • icu.7z
      • user-config.jam
      • zlib-1.2.8.tar.gz
    • Config.mnk
    • Makefile_BoostLib.nmk
    • Makefile_main.nmk
• Copy/move the “boost_1_58_0.zip” file into the `src` folder

Build the Boost libraries set using nmake tool

• From the installed Visual Studio, start “Developer Command Prompt for VS2013”
• Navigate to the newly created folder `BoostBuild_VisualStudio2013` where the `Makefile_main.nmk` is. Type the following command:

  nmake /f Makefile_main.nmk all

• This will kick-off the build process. All the zip files will be extracted and the boost libraries set will start to build. The build activities will be logged into the `Boost_Build.log` for the record. If you have `tail` installed, you can view the activities in real time by:

  tail -f Boost_Build.log

• As a result, a folder called `boost_1_59_0_MsVCBuild` is created. If the build goes successfully, you will find the mentioned Boost libraries set in this folder.

Conclusion

The C++ Boost is one of the powerful libraries set. It's a great tool set to those who program C++ seriously. To start learning C++ Boost, you can look at the available libraries at (http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/) and learn how to use them.

I hope this tip will spark the interest of learning the Boost library in you.

Enjoy!