README.building-boost

Most distributions have the required version of Boost (1.35) ready for
installation using their standard package installation tools (apt-get,
yum, etc.).

If running a distribution that requires boost 1.35 (or later) be built
from scratch, these instructions explain how to do so, and in a way
that allows it to peacefully coexist with earlier versions of boost.

Notice that this is **not** the usual case. If you're using a Linux distribution
shipping a boost version prior to 1.35, you should very strongly consider just
updating to a more recent version. Even CentOS / RedHat 6.9 ship sufficiently
recent versions. Distributions older than that are generally considered to be
end-of-life.

There are two recommended methods (aside from the far more recommended method of
upgrading your system): Installing boost using the PyBOMBS utility, or building
it from a source tarball.

1. Installing Boost using PyBOMBS
---------------------------------

You can
install a recent boost by downloading and executing the PyBOMBS utility:

# go to a directory you have write access to
$ git clone git://github.com/pybombs/pybombs
$ cd pybombs
$ ./pybombs install boost

The utility will take care of everything from thereon, install it from a
package source if a recent version is available for your system or build
it from source if necessary.

2. Building Boost from a source tarball
---------------------------------------

Download the latest version of boost from boost.sourceforge.net.
(boost_1_49_0.tar.bz2 was the latest when this was written). Different
Boost versions often have different installations. If these
instructions don't work, check the website www.boost.org for more
help.

unpack it somewhere
cd (change directory) into the resulting directory

$ cd boost_1_49_0

# Pick a prefix to install it into. I used /opt/boost_1_49_0

$ BOOST_PREFIX=/opt/boost_1_49_0

$ ./bootstrap.sh
$ sudo ./b2 --prefix=$BOOST_PREFIX --with-thread --with-date_time --with-program_options --with-filesystem --with-system --layout=versioned threading=multi variant=release install

# Done! That was easy!

Note that you don't have to specify each library, which will then
build all Boost libraries and projects. By specifying only those
required will just save compilation time.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Installing GNU Radio with new Boost libraries.

Tell Cmake to look for the Boost libraries and header files in the new location with the following command:

$ cd <build directory>
$ cmake -DBOOST_ROOT=$BOOST_PREFIX -DBoost_INCLUDE_DIR=$BOOST_PREFIX/include/boost-1_49/ -DBoost_LIBRARY_DIRS=$BOOST_PREFIX/lib  <path to gnuradio source tree>
$ make
$ make test
$ sudo make install

See README for more installation details.