Boost - static linking in CMake project under Windows

cpp, Boost, linking, C++, static

A small note about static linking Boost, so as not to forget.

Initial data:

• OS Windows
• MSVC 2017 64bit
• Boost 1.68.0
• CMake project

An example will be shown in the simplest version without special variable settings. Maximum default.

Step 1

Скачиваем boost библиотеку и куда-нибудь её распаковываем. Место распаковки не принципиально.

Step 2

We only carry out two commands to the unpacking boost directory.

To build the engine

bootstrap.bat vc141

To build and install libraries directly

.\b2 toolset=msvc-14.1 --address-model=64 --link=static --variant=debug --variant=release stage install

In this case, a static build of the boost in the release and debug versions will be performed.

All files will be copied to the following directory.

C:\Boost

Step 3

Configuration of CMakeLists.txt

cmake_minimum_required (VERSION 3.8)

project(MyProject)

set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
set(Boost_USE_STATIC_LIBS ON)
find_package(Boost 1.68 COMPONENTS program_options)

set(SOURCE_FILES
        main.cpp
        App.cpp
        App.h)

if(Boost_FOUND)
    include_directories(${Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS})
    add_executable(MyProject${SOURCE_FILES})
    target_link_libraries(MyProject${Boost_LIBRARIES})
endif()