c++boost.gif (8819 bytes) Home Libraries People FAQ More

Compiler Status Tables

Compiler Status Summary (on SourceForge) of Boost regression test results.
Introduction
Understanding the Tables
Acknowledgements

Introduction

Will all Boost libraries work with your compiler?  Unfortunately, the answer is "it depends". See the Compiler Status Summary to see exactly what works and what doesn't.

Boost libraries rely on modern C++ features such as templates and the C++ Standard Library.  Most modern compilers support those major features fairly well. But even today, years after the adoption of the C++ Standard, some compilers still don't support important minor features like partial template specialization.

Boost library authors often expend a great deal of effort trying to work around compiler deficiencies.  Nevertheless, some libraries will not compile at all with certain compilers or may have crippled functionality.  Even if the current release of a compiler supports a boost library, older versions of the compiler may not work properly.

Boost releases are run through regression tests which automatically generates Compiler Status Tables for various platforms. Unless otherwise indicated, the C++ Standard Library implementation is the one shipped with the compiler.

Warnings:

The Compiler Status Summary includes table summaries for specific releases, as well as table summaries for recent CVS snapshots. Release tables are identified by the release number appended to the table name. CVS snapshot tables do not have a release number appended.

The CVS code is being updated several times a day, so it may contain bug fixes, compiler workarounds, new features, and even whole new libraries. It may be unstable, however.

Understanding the Tables

A table might look like this:

Run Date: 21 Sep 2001 15:31 GMT

System Configuration: Microsoft Windows 32bit 

Program Test
Type		 BelchFire
Rev 5280		 WorkHorse
5.3
libs/foo/test/foo_test.cpp compile Pass Pass
libs/bar/bar_test.cpp run Fail Pass

The Run Date is important because the regression tests which create the status tables are run asynchronously, and thus may not represent the most current Boost release.

The Program column identifies the actual source file for the test.  Each row in the table represents a different test.

The Test Type column identifies the type of test performed:

Test Type Action Required to Pass Description and Use
compile compile only Compiler returns 0. Verify that a source file will compile correctly, but without any attempt to link or execute.  Used when factors such as possible object library unavailability make a run test impractical.
compile-fail compile only Compiler must return non-zero. Verify that a source file fails to compile. Used to verify that an expected compile-time error was detected.
link compile, link Both compiler & linker return 0. Verify that a source file will compile and link correctly, but without any attempt to execute the result.  Used when factors such as possible data file unavailability make a run test impractical.
link-fail compile, link Either the compiler or linker must return non-zero. Verify that a source file fails to compile and link. Used to verify that error detect which depends on unresolved externals works correctly.
run compile, link, execute Compiler, linker, and executable must all return 0. Verify that a source file compiles, links, and the resulting program executes correctly (as indicated by a zero return code.)  This is the primary test type for most uses.
run-fail compile, link, execute Both compiler and linker must return 0, and the executable must return non-zero. Verify that a source file compiles and links correctly, and that execution of the resulting program detects some error.  Used to verify runtime error detection code works properly.

Each remaining column in the table represents the individual compiler indicated. Unless otherwise indicated, the C++ Standard Library implementation is the one shipped with the compiler. A Pass entry indicates success for the indicated Test Type, while a Fail entry indicates failure. See Required to Pass in the above table for specifics.

When possible, Fail entries are linked to error messages indicating the reason for the failure. Note that the web page containing error messages may be as much as one megabyte in size.

Acknowledgements

The compiler status tables have been prepared with resources donated by a number of individuals, educational institutions, and companies. Boost would like to thank them for their support.

Note, however, that Boost does not endorse any product or service, nor does Boost guarantee that some or all of its libraries work with any of the products or services mentioned above.

Revised 22 January 2004