1. C++ Programming Leveraging the BOOST Libraries
Lecture Class 8
C++ Programming
Leveraging the BOOST Libraries

2. What is BOOST?
BOOST is a collection of libraries (with source code in headers)
The founders of the boost.org project and libraries were all members of the C++ Standards Committee
Motivations: Java popularity and Beman Dawes

3. Boost Design The Boost libraries were designed to be group-developed
10 Boost libraries have already been accepted into the C++ Standard
Free for any use licensing policy, although authors retain copyright
Strong peer review

4. BOOST Library Categories
BOOST offers libraries in areas such as:
Algorithms
Memory Management
Concurrent Programming
Parsing
Containers
Patterns and Idioms
Data Structures
State Machines
Generic Programming
String and Text Processing
Image Processing
System
Input/Output (think streams)
Template Metaprogramming
Iterators
Threads
Math and Numerics

5. BOOST Libraries
BOOST offers libraries in the Input/Output (Boost.Iostreams) category such as:
array
null_sink
back_insert_device
regex_filter
basic_array
stream_buffer
basic_bzip2.compressor
stream
basic_regex_filter
tee_device
composite
warray
filtering_stream
wsink
gzip_compressor
zlib_compressor
mapped_file_sink
zlib_decompressor

6. Boost Containers Classes in the Containers category include: array
multi_array
bimap
multi_index
gil
pointer_container
graph
property map
Image Processing
System

7. Boost Documentation Boost categories can be found at:
(1_55_0 is available as well)
For example, in the String Category, information on the regex library can be found at:

8. Boost Documentation
Boost Documentation is not quite standardized, but most libraries include sections such as:
Overview (Motivation, Description)
User's Guide (Getting Started, Tutorial, etc.)
Building and Installing Instructions
Reference (Headers, Classes)
Appendices (Rationale, FAQs, Future Plans, etc.)

9. Test Programs
Boost offers a testing framework, and all libraries leverage testing
The regression test for regex is at:
These regression tests can be used to learn how the various interfaces work

10. Example Programs Boost offers example programs for all libraries
The code snippet for regex parsing of credit card numbers is at:
The code snippet for the Boost.Date_Time library is at:

11. Cluster Development
Boost 1.50 and 1.55 are built and installed on the cluster under:
/stage/classes/archive/2013/fall// /boost_1_50_0
A few sample programs (drawn from the boost examples) may be found at:
~mark/pub/51025/src/boost.examples
~mark/pub/51025/src/boost.55.examples
I have provided makefiles with library and include macros for building boost code on the cluster in each subdirectory

12. Cluster Development To compile a file using boost 1.55:
g++ -I/stage/classes/archive/2013/fall/ /boost_1_55_0 -g -Wall -ansi -pthread -std=c++0x -c helloworld2.cpp
To link a file using boost 1.55 libs:
g++ -I/stage/classes/archive/2013/fall/ /boost_1_55_0 -g -Wall -ansi -pthread -std=c++0x -o helloworld2 helloworld2.o -L /stage/classes/archive/2013/fall/ /boost_1_55_0/lib/ -lrt -lboost_thread -l boost_system

13. Cluster Execution
To run a program you've compiled under boost on the cluster, you need to set the shared library path:
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/stage/classes/archive/2013/fall/ /boost_1_55_0/lib
An easier way is to export the above line in your .bashrc or .bash_profile file:
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/stage/classes/archive/2013/fall/ /boost_1_55_0/lib