Can't link to python_boost library due to multiarch changes

[Andreas Moog]

Hi there,

when boost1.53 got multiarched, all the libraries were moved to /usr/lib/<multi-arch-triplet>:

(saucy)andreas@incubator:~$ find /usr/lib -name libboost*
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libboost_python-py33.a
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libboost_python-py27.so.1.53.0
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libboost_python-py27.a
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libboost_python-py33.so.1.53.0
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libboost_python-py27.so
/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libboost_python-py33.so

That works well for normal libraries, but the python one is a special case. As you can see, there are 2 libraries, one for python 2.7, one for 3.3. In the previous, non-multiarch, version, a symlink /usr/lib/libboost_python.so would be created to the default python version. Unfortunately the script didn't get adapted for the new location.

This breaks compilation of almost all programs that are linked against boost-python as well as auto-detection of boost for example in CMAKE: https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1217106

Please see the attached patch for a possible solution. It sets the correct multi-arch location for the script during compilation and unbreaks CMAKE.

[Andreas Moog (ampelbein)]

After a little talk on IRC, Dmitrijs proposed a different fix: Since the python2.7 release will be the latest in the 2.x series, the script that updates the symlink isn't necessary anymore and a static symlink can be used.

[Dimitri John Ledkov (xnox)]

But it seems like there wasn't anything in place to update the python3 -> python3.3 symlink.
Recently I've started to think that maybe the boost-python libraries should live in the multiarch & python abi-tag qualified locations e.g. same as libpython itself e.g. /usr/lib/pythonX.Y/confgi-X.Y$(abi-tag)-$(multiarch)/
I have implemented the static symlink in svn for debian, I need to do the boost uploads to fix this now.

[Dimitri John Ledkov (xnox)]

boost is currently blocked migrating due to Beta1 freeze, but this should reach saucy release pocket sometime on friday.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package boost1.53 - 1.53.0-6+exp3ubuntu4

---------------
boost1.53 (1.53.0-6+exp3ubuntu4) saucy; urgency=low

  * Rebuild to match boost-mpi-source version number.
 -- Dmitrijs Ledkovs <email address hidden> Tue, 03 Sep 2013 08:50:33 +0100