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Alias

The alias rule gives alternative name to a group of targets. For example, to give the name core to a group of three other targets with the following code:

alias core : im reader writer ;

Using core on the command line, or in the source list of any other target is the same as explicitly using im, reader, and writer, but it is just more convenient.

Another use of the alias rule is to change build properties. For example, if you always want static linking for a specific C++ Boost library, you can write the following:

alias threads : /boost/thread//boost_thread : <link>static ;

and use only the threads alias in your Jamfiles.

You can also specify usage requirements for the alias target. If you write the following:

alias header_only_library : : : :  <include>/usr/include/header_only_library ; 

then using header_only_library in sources will only add an include path. Also note that when there are some sources, their usage requirements are propagated, too. For example:

lib lib : lib.cpp : : : <include>. ;
alias lib_alias ; 
exe main : main.cpp lib_alias ;

will compile main.cpp with the additional include.


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