How to use Boost in Visual Studio 2010

Question

What is a good step by step explanation on how to use the Boost library in an empty project in Visual Studio?

Answer 1

While the instructions on the Boost web site are helpful, here is a condensed version that also builds x64 libraries.

• You only need to do this if you are using one of the libraries mentioned in section 3 of the instructions page. (E.g., to use Boost.Filesystem requires compilation.) If you are not using any of those, just unzip and go.

Build the 32-bit libraries

This installs the Boost header files under C:\Boost\include\boost-(version), and the 32-bit libraries under C:\Boost\lib\i386. Note that the default location for the libraries is C:\Boost\lib but you’ll want to put them under an i386 directory if you plan to build for multiple architectures.

1. Unzip Boost into a new directory.
2. Start a 32-bit MSVC command prompt and change to the directory where Boost was unzipped.
3. Run: bootstrap

4. Run: b2 toolset=msvc-12.0 --build-type=complete --libdir=C:\Boost\lib\i386 install

   • For Visual Studio 2012, use toolset=msvc-11.0
   • For Visual Studio 2010, use toolset=msvc-10.0
   • For Visual Studio 2017, use toolset=msvc-14.1

5. Add C:\Boost\include\boost-(version) to your include path.

6. Add C:\Boost\lib\i386 to your libs path.

Build the 64-bit libraries

This installs the Boost header files under C:\Boost\include\boost-(version), and the 64-bit libraries under C:\Boost\lib\x64. Note that the default location for the libraries is C:\Boost\lib but you’ll want to put them under an x64 directory if you plan to build for multiple architectures.

1. Unzip Boost into a new directory.
2. Start a 64-bit MSVC command prompt and change to the directory where Boost was unzipped.
3. Run: bootstrap
4. Run: b2 toolset=msvc-12.0 --build-type=complete --libdir=C:\Boost\lib\x64 architecture=x86 address-model=64 install
   • For Visual Studio 2012, use toolset=msvc-11.0
   • For Visual Studio 2010, use toolset=msvc-10.0
5. Add C:\Boost\include\boost-(version) to your include path.
6. Add C:\Boost\lib\x64 to your libs path.