nuwen MinGW + Boost- error linking boost_regex

Question

I downloaded the nuwen distribution of MinGW, which comes with Boost (GCC 4.6.1 and Boost 1.47.0.). I want to use the Boost regex package in a c++ program. libboost_regex.a is contained in C:\dev\MinGW\lib, which is in my path as well as the library search path for MinGW. When I compile, it gives me lots and lots of errors. I tried giving it the exact path to the library in the g++ command line, but to no avail. My best attempt at compiling: g++ -o test -LC:\dev\MinGW -lboost_regex testBoost.cpp. The program I'm trying to run:

#include <iostream>
#include <boost/regex.hpp>

int main (int argc, char* argv[])
{
            static const boost::regex exp ("hello regex!");
}

My humongous pile of errors:

C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail27cpp_regex_traits_char_layerIcEC2ERKNS0_21cpp_regex_traits_baseIcEE[boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_char_layer<char>::cpp_regex_traits_char_layer(boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_base<char> const&)]+0x20): undefined reference to `boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_char_layer<char>::init()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail11raw_storage6extendEj[boost::re_detail::raw_storage::extend(unsigned int)]+0x41): undefined reference to `boost::re_detail::raw_storage::resize(unsigned int)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail18basic_regex_parserIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE4failENS_15regex_constants10error_typeEiSsi[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_parser<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fail(boost::regex_constants::error_type, int, std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >, int)]+0x214): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::regex_error(std::string const&, boost::regex_constants::error_type, int)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail18basic_regex_parserIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE4failENS_15regex_constants10error_typeEiSsi[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_parser<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fail(boost::regex_constants::error_type, int, std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >, int)]+0x21f): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::raise() const'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail18basic_regex_parserIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE4failENS_15regex_constants10error_typeEiSsi[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_parser<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fail(boost::regex_constants::error_type, int, std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >, int)]+0x22a): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::~regex_error()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail18basic_regex_parserIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE4failENS_15regex_constants10error_typeEiSsi[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_parser<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fail(boost::regex_constants::error_type, int, std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >, int)]+0x285): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::~regex_error()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16fixup_recursionsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fixup_recursions(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x109): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::regex_error(std::string const&, boost::regex_constants::error_type, int)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16fixup_recursionsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fixup_recursions(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x114): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::raise() const'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16fixup_recursionsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fixup_recursions(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x11f): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::~regex_error()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16fixup_recursionsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fixup_recursions(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x2e0): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::regex_error(std::string const&, boost::regex_constants::error_type, int)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16fixup_recursionsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fixup_recursions(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x2eb): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::raise() const'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16fixup_recursionsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fixup_recursions(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x2f6): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::~regex_error()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16fixup_recursionsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fixup_recursions(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x345): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::~regex_error()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16fixup_recursionsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::fixup_recursions(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x382): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::~regex_error()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16create_startmapsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::create_startmaps(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x179): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::regex_error(std::string const&, boost::regex_constants::error_type, int)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16create_startmapsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::create_startmaps(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x184): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::raise() const'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16create_startmapsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::create_startmaps(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x18f): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::~regex_error()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE16create_startmapsEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseE[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::create_startmaps(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*)]+0x2d6): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::~regex_error()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE15create_startmapEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseEPhPjh[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::create_startmap(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*, unsigned char*, unsigned int*, unsigned char)]+0x23d): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::regex_error(std::string const&, boost::regex_constants::error_type, int)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE15create_startmapEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseEPhPjh[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::create_startmap(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*, unsigned char*, unsigned int*, unsigned char)]+0x248): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::raise() const'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE15create_startmapEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseEPhPjh[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::create_startmap(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*, unsigned char*, unsigned int*, unsigned char)]+0x253): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::~regex_error()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE15create_startmapEPNS0_14re_syntax_baseEPhPjh[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::create_startmap(boost::re_detail::re_syntax_base*, unsigned char*, unsigned int*, unsigned char)]+0x947): undefined reference to `boost::regex_error::~regex_error()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZNK5boost9re_detail31cpp_regex_traits_implementationIcE12error_stringENS_15regex_constants10error_typeE[boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_implementation<char>::error_string(boost::regex_constants::error_type) const]+0x89): undefined reference to `boost::re_detail::get_default_error_string(boost::regex_constants::error_type)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZNK5boost9re_detail31cpp_regex_traits_implementationIcE12error_stringENS_15regex_constants10error_typeE[boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_implementation<char>::error_string(boost::regex_constants::error_type) const]+0xe7): undefined reference to `boost::re_detail::get_default_error_string(boost::regex_constants::error_type)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail19basic_regex_creatorIcNS_12regex_traitsIcNS_16cpp_regex_traitsIcEEEEE12insert_stateEiNS0_19syntax_element_typeEj[boost::re_detail::basic_regex_creator<char, boost::regex_traits<char, boost::cpp_regex_traits<char> > >::insert_state(int, boost::re_detail::syntax_element_type, unsigned int)]+0x94): undefined reference to `boost::re_detail::raw_storage::insert(unsigned int, unsigned int)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost12object_cacheINS_9re_detail21cpp_regex_traits_baseIcEENS1_31cpp_regex_traits_implementationIcEEE3getERKS3_j[boost::object_cache<boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_base<char>, boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_implementation<char> >::get(boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_base<char> const&, unsigned int)]+0x1e): undefined reference to `boost::scoped_static_mutex_lock::scoped_static_mutex_lock(boost::static_mutex&, bool)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost12object_cacheINS_9re_detail21cpp_regex_traits_baseIcEENS1_31cpp_regex_traits_implementationIcEEE3getERKS3_j[boost::object_cache<boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_base<char>, boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_implementation<char> >::get(boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_base<char> const&, unsigned int)]+0x59): undefined reference to `boost::scoped_static_mutex_lock::~scoped_static_mutex_lock()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost12object_cacheINS_9re_detail21cpp_regex_traits_baseIcEENS1_31cpp_regex_traits_implementationIcEEE3getERKS3_j[boost::object_cache<boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_base<char>, boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_implementation<char> >::get(boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_base<char> const&, unsigned int)]+0xdf): undefined reference to `boost::scoped_static_mutex_lock::~scoped_static_mutex_lock()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZNK5boost9re_detail31cpp_regex_traits_implementationIcE18lookup_collatenameEPKcS4_[boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_implementation<char>::lookup_collatename(char const*, char const*) const]+0x10f): undefined reference to `boost::re_detail::lookup_default_collate_name(std::string const&)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail31cpp_regex_traits_implementationIcE4initEv[boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_implementation<char>::init()]+0xe3): undefined reference to `boost::re_detail::raise_runtime_error(std::runtime_error const&)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost9re_detail31cpp_regex_traits_implementationIcE4initEv[boost::re_detail::cpp_regex_traits_implementation<char>::init()]+0x11a): undefined reference to `boost::re_detail::get_default_error_string(boost::regex_constants::error_type)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost16cpp_regex_traitsIcE16get_catalog_nameEv[boost::cpp_regex_traits<char>::get_catalog_name()]+0x1f): undefined reference to `boost::scoped_static_mutex_lock::scoped_static_mutex_lock(boost::static_mutex&, bool)'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost16cpp_regex_traitsIcE16get_catalog_nameEv[boost::cpp_regex_traits<char>::get_catalog_name()]+0x3e): undefined reference to `boost::scoped_static_mutex_lock::~scoped_static_mutex_lock()'
C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccTuJyrB.o:testBoost.cpp:(.text$_ZN5boost16cpp_regex_traitsIcE16get_catalog_nameEv[boost::cpp_regex_traits<char>::get_catalog_name()]+0x56): undefined reference to `boost::scoped_static_mutex_lock::~scoped_static_mutex_lock()'
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status

Edit: As suggested by Michael Burr, I ran g++ -Wl --verbose. Here is the output from it:

Using built-in specs.
COLLECT_GCC=g++
COLLECT_LTO_WRAPPER=c:/dev/mingw/bin/../libexec/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/lto-wrapper.exe
Target: i686-pc-mingw32
Configured with: ../src/configure --prefix=/c/temp/gcc/dest --enable-languages=c,c++ --with-arch=i686 --with-tune=generic --disable-libstdcxx-pch --disable-nls --disable-shared --disable-sjlj-exceptions --disable-win32-registry --enable-checking=release --disable-lto
Thread model: win32
gcc version 4.6.1 (GCC) 
COLLECT_GCC_OPTIONS='-o' 'test.exe' '-Wl' '-v' '-LC:\dev\MinGW\' '-mtune=generic' '-march=i686'
 c:/dev/mingw/bin/../libexec/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/cc1plus.exe -quiet -v -iprefix c:\dev\mingw\bin\../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/ testBoost.cpp -quiet -dumpbase testBoost.cpp -mtune=generic -march=i686 -auxbase testBoost -Wl -version -o C:\Users\nate\AppData\Local\Temp\ccX1SmTk.s
cc1plus.exe: error: unrecognized command line option '-Wl'
GNU C++ (GCC) version 4.6.1 (i686-pc-mingw32)
    compiled by GNU C version 4.6.1, GMP version 5.0.2, MPFR version 3.0.1-p4, MPC version 0.9
GGC heuristics: --param ggc-min-expand=100 --param ggc-min-heapsize=131072
ignoring nonexistent directory "c:\dev\mingw\bin\../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/../../../../i686-pc-mingw32/include"
ignoring duplicate directory "c:/dev/mingw/lib/gcc/../../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1"
ignoring duplicate directory "c:/dev/mingw/lib/gcc/../../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/i686-pc-mingw32"
ignoring duplicate directory "c:/dev/mingw/lib/gcc/../../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/backward"
ignoring duplicate directory "c:/dev/mingw/lib/gcc/../../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/include"
ignoring nonexistent directory "c:/temp/gcc/dest/include"
ignoring nonexistent directory "/c/temp/gcc/dest/include"
ignoring duplicate directory "c:/dev/mingw/lib/gcc/../../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/include-fixed"
ignoring nonexistent directory "c:/dev/mingw/lib/gcc/../../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/../../../../i686-pc-mingw32/include"
ignoring nonexistent directory "/mingw/include"
#include "..." search starts here:
#include <...> search starts here:
 c:\dev\mingw\bin\../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1
 c:\dev\mingw\bin\../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/i686-pc-mingw32
 c:\dev\mingw\bin\../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/../../../../include/c++/4.6.1/backward
 c:\dev\mingw\bin\../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/include
 c:\dev\mingw\bin\../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/../../../../include
 c:\dev\mingw\bin\../lib/gcc/i686-pc-mingw32/4.6.1/include-fixed
End of search list.
GNU C++ (GCC) version 4.6.1 (i686-pc-mingw32)
    compiled by GNU C version 4.6.1, GMP version 5.0.2, MPFR version 3.0.1-p4, MPC version 0.9
GGC heuristics: --param ggc-min-expand=100 --param ggc-min-heapsize=131072

Answer 1

This works fine for me using -lboost_regex passed on the command line (mingw-7.2.exe distribution from nuwen.net - freshly unpacked with nothing else done to the distribution - which contains the compiler and boost versions you mentioned).

Try passing the option -Wl,--verbose to have the gnu ld linker be verbose about where it's looking for the libraries - that might give you a clue. Maybe some hidden option/environment setting is causing the wrong libboost_regex.a to be picked up?

Another thing to try is to pass the full path and filename for the library as an input file to g++ (with no options) - GCC will figure out that it's a library file (and a lib directory search will not be done for it). So assuming that you have MinGW installed in C:\dev\Mingw, the command line should look like:

g++ -o test -LC:\dev\MinGW testBoost.cpp c:\dev\MinGW\lib\libboost_regex.a

If that works, then you have a problem with the wrong library being found, and you need to fix your build script/build configuration or you'll continue to have problems down the road. If that still doesn't work, then the library might have been corrupted - try downloading and/or extracting the nuwen.net distribution again. Or try building the Boost libraries from scratch (which may take a while).