on Wed May 09 2007, Bill Hoffman <bill.hoffman-AT-kitware.com> wrote:
Hi,
I noticed the "boost development process / scope" thread on your list. A CMake user posted a link to your discussion. There is significant interest in the CMake community to help boost transition to CMake. Several people on the CMake list have volunteered to help, and Kitware is willing to put about 2 man weeks of effort into the conversion.
Whoa; that's a very significant development.
I think that CMake has all the features to do what you need at this point, but if any bugs or issues are discovered during the process, we can fix them and/or provide work-arounds for the issues.
I realize you have not yet decided on moving to CMake, but I thought I would put out this offer so that you could consider "free" support as one of the benefits you will receive from the port to CMake.
That's huge. I want to discuss our requirements, though, and make sure that they will actually be satisfied. One question on my mind: how much of what Boost.Build provides is already in the CMake system, and how much would have to be implemented on top of that, in CMake files? If there's a lot that would have to live outside of CMake itself, the value of a switch would be reduced. My main concern is that we satisfy most of http://www.boost.org/tools/build/v1/build_system.htm#design_criteria
I can see this happening in two ways. One would be for a CMake developer to create initial cmake files for boost, and get the basics working. Then, the work would be turned over to the Boost community. The other way would be to have a boost developer create the build files with help and support from the CMake community. Either way works for me. Of course, no one will want to do anything unless there is a commitment to actually use CMake.
Unfortunately I don't think Boost can commit to using CMake until we see that it can work for us. That would mean at least getting the basics working. Do we have a chicken-and-egg problem here? I for one am very grateful for the offer, and hope that we can take advantage of it. -- Dave Abrahams Boost Consulting http://www.boost-consulting.com Don't Miss BoostCon 2007! ==> http://www.boostcon.com