Running C++ Boost regressions with Boost.Build V2

This document described how to run C++ Boost regression tests (using regression.py script), with Boost.Build V2.

Configuration

Unlike V1, configuration of toolset is not done by creating new toolset files. Rather, there's a single config file that should be edited. The file is called user-config.jam and must be placed to your home directory. For the exact meaning of "home directory", see http://boost.org/boost-build2/doc/html/bbv2/reference.html#bbv2.reference.init

The file should contain one entry for each toolset/version combination to be tested. Each entry should be in the form:

using <toolset-name> : <toolset-version> : <absolute name of compiler executable> ;

for example:

using msvc : 7.0 : "Z:/Programs/Microsoft Visual Studio/vc98/bin/cl.exe" ;

It's possible to specify additional options to compiler or linker:

using hp_cxx 
       : 65_042_tru64   # version
       :                # command not specified -- use default
       :                # options
     <compileflags>"-version V6.5-042"
     <linkflags>"-version V6.5-042 -use_non_shared_libcxx"
;

Another note is that while in V1 customized toolset is commonly named base_toolset-version, in V2 the version parameter to using should not include base toolset name. That is, using hp_cxx_64_042_tru64 above would be a mistake.

After declaring a toolset version, it's possible to use base_toolset-version to request this toolset when building.

Running

To use V2 when running regression.py, just add -v2 option. For example:

./regression.py get-source
./regression.py setup --v2
./regression.py test --v2 --toolsets=hp_cxx-65_042_tru42
./regression.py collect-logs --v2
./regression.py cleanup bin

The names of toolsets passed to regression.py are constructed from name base toolset name and version passed to the using rule, separated with dash.