Install and build Boost library in Linux

Question

I'm following the Boost Getting Started article. I've installed it with Bjam and I could see include files and library files (.a, .so).

#include <boost/regex.hpp> #include <iostream> #include <string> int main() { std::string line; boost::regex pat( "^Subject: (Re: |Aw: )*(.*)" ); }

If I build above code using this command

g++ -I./boost/include -L./boost/lib -lboost_regex-gcc43-mt -static -o test_boost2 test_boost2.cc

I get this error:

/tmp/ccJFVVid.o: In function `boost::basic_regex<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::assign(char const*, char const*, unsigned int)': test_boost2.cc:(.text._ZN5boost11basic_regexIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE6assignEPKcS7_j[boost::basic_regex<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::assign(char const*, char const*, unsigned int)]+0x22): undefined reference to `boost::basic_regex<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::do_assign(char const*, char const*, unsigned int)' collect2: ld returned 1 exit status

It was working okay under my Windows machine.

What's wrong?

gcc version 4.3.2 (Debian 4.3.2-1.1)

Linux xxxxxxxx 2.6.26-1-686 #1 SMP Fri Mar 13 18:08:45 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux

LiraNuna · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-09 04:36:54Z

18

sudo apt-get install libboost-regex-dev

Don't bother installing from source where a much more intelligent system can do better.

To compile, just use

g++ -lboost_regex boost.cpp -o boost

To get list of available package names (more parts of boost):

apt-cache search libboost | grep -- -dev

Dislaimer: I assume you use Debian since that's what your GCC version reports.

edited Jul 9, 2009 at 4:36

answered Jul 9, 2009 at 2:49

LiraNuna

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3 Comments

Hongseok Yoon Over a year ago

It works! But how should I do if I want to install the latest version of Boost(1.39)? Because what I really want to use is Boost.Asio library. :)

Daniel James Over a year ago

If you're using lenny you can use 'libboost1.35-dev', if you're using squeeze, there's 'libboost1.38-dev'. There's also the standalone version of asio, 'libasio-dev'. The versions in lenny are pretty old though.

Nautilus Over a year ago

linked libraries should be at the end of the compile should they not? Therefore it would be: g++ boost.cpp -o boost -lboost_regex

Hongseok Yoon · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-09 06:03:50Z

I found the problem! g++ command problem! :( sorry. If I move back -l option to the end of the line, it does not complain more :)

Vladimir Prus · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-09 05:45:36Z

2

Your

-L./boost/lib

seems suspect. When you build Boost, the libraries are put into stage/lib directory. Also, the default build process does not create static libraries, so you probably better take -static off the command line. If that does not fix the problem, I suggest you follow the steps at my blog to troubleshoot this.

answered Jul 9, 2009 at 5:45

Vladimir Prus

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3 Comments

Hongseok Yoon Over a year ago

After I compiled regex separately and use its result, just same error. g++ -I./boost_1_39_0 ./boost_1_39_0/libs/regex/build/gcc/libboost_regex-gcc-1_38.a -o test_boost2 test_boost2.cc

Hongseok Yoon Over a year ago

g++ -I./boost_1_39_0 -o test_boost2 test_boost2.cc ./boost_1_39_0/libs/regex/build/gcc/libboost_regex-gcc-1_38.a ^ this works!!!!!!

Vladimir Prus Over a year ago

This is because for static libraries, the position you specify them on the linker's command line matters. Again, see the blog post.

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