boostorg / boostorg/assert

Slow cmake glob checks

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#46 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Dominant language
C++
Stars
35
Forks
77
PR merge metrics
No merged PRs in 30d

Description

On a cmake project that makes use of boost via `add_subdirectory`, the "Re-checking globbed directories..." stage at the start of the build will occasionally take several tens of seconds. This traces down to the use of `CONFIGURE_DEPENDS` on Boost.Assert and other Boost libraries.

https://github.com/boostorg/assert/blob/af15ced8d04907345a0211dab46557e085960eb7/CMakeLists.txt#L26

Consider disabling `CONFIGURE_DEPENDS` when Boost is used as a dependency, as glob results shouldn't change and re-checking can be costly.

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

Research direction

Start with CMakeLists.txt around line 26 in Boost.Assert and inspect how CONFIGURE_DEPENDS is applied to globbed files. Reproduce the "Re-checking globbed directories..." delay in a CMake project using Boost through add_subdirectory, then verify that dependency builds no longer incur the costly re-check while normal glob behavior remains correct.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cmake, cpp
Domain
build-system, performance
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
55/100

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