# SOLVED error: Could not link against boost\_program\_options !
**URL:** https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963
**Category:** Building synfig
**Created:** [April 6, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963 "2014-04-06T07:35:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@og\_da\_trog](https://forums.synfig.org/u/og_da_trog)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/1 "2014-04-06T07:35:22Z")
Hello I am trying to build synfig from source.
I cloned synfig from github.
Then I followed the instructions on: [http://wiki.synfig.org/wiki/Dev:Build\_Instructions](http://wiki.synfig.org/wiki/Dev:Build_Instructions)
I was just going through typing in the lines of code one by one. Then I got to where I had to type in
```auto
./configure
```
for synfig-core (at this point I’d already typed ‘./configure’ in once for ETL, it worked fine then.)
it gave me this:
> [@](#):
>
> checking whether the Boost::Program\_Options library is available… yes
> checking for exit in -lboost\_program\_options… no
> checking for exit in -lboost\_program\_options… (cached) no
> configure: error: Could not link against boost\_program\_options !
I tried doing:
```auto
./configure --with-boost-libdir=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu
```
but it still didnt work
thankyou for your help c:
---
### Author:  [@d.j.a.y](https://forums.synfig.org/u/d.j.a.y)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2014, 9:00am UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/2 "2014-04-06T09:00:40Z")
first i think that you should follow those instructions in order to setup the build : [How to Build Synfig Studio in Ubuntu Karmic Koala 9.10](https://forums.synfig.org/t/how-to-build-synfig-studio-in-ubuntu-karmic-koala-9-10/734/1)
and also have a look to this thread also to well configure boostlibs: [Boost lib \>= 1.53](https://forums.synfig.org/t/boost-lib-1-53/2911/1)
read to entire discussion development from both links…
under what system are you trying to build ?
Nota : Wiki development pages really needs some update !
---
### Author:  [@og\_da\_trog](https://forums.synfig.org/u/og_da_trog)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2014, 9:17am UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/3 "2014-04-06T09:17:36Z")
oh sorry I should’ve provided, that info.
I’m on linux mint 16 64 bit
and I’ll have a look at those links you sent me
thankyou
---
### Author:  [@og\_da\_trog](https://forums.synfig.org/u/og_da_trog)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/4 "2014-04-06T12:27:55Z")
okay so this is what I figured I had to do from the two links you sent me.
first I cloned synfig from guthub.
then I downloaded boost\_1\_55\_0 and extracted it to /opt.
then I compiled it by running the commands:
`./bootstrap.sh --prefix=/opt/boost_1_55_0
./b2`
then I created the build.sh file inside the synfig folder that was created when I cloned synfig from guthub.
[code]#!/bin/sh
cd synfig
CPUS=4
prefix=$(pwd)/install
export PKG\_CONFIG\_PATH=“$prefix/lib/pkgconfig”
export PATH=$(pwd)/synfig-core/src/tool/.libs:$PATH
export CXX=“/usr/bin/ccache /usr/bin/g++”
cd ETL &&
autoreconf --install --force &&
./configure --prefix $prefix &&
make install &&
cd …/synfig-core &&
libtoolize --ltdl --copy --force &&
autoreconf --install --force &&
./configure --prefix $prefix &&
make -j $CPUS install &&
cd …/synfig-studio &&
autoreconf --install --force &&
./configure --prefix $prefix &&
make -j $CPUS install[/code]
that is what was in the build.sh file
I then changed:
```auto
./configure --prefix $prefix &&
```
to
```auto
./configure --with-boost=/opt/boost_1_55_0 &&
```
but it still doesnt work.
I still get this error:
> [@](#):
>
> checking whether the Boost::Program\_Options library is available… yes
> configure: error: Could not find a version of the library!
thankyou again
---
### Author:  [@Yoyobuae](https://forums.synfig.org/u/Yoyobuae)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/5 "2014-04-06T16:45:38Z")
> [@og\_da\_trog](#):
>
> okay so this is what I figured I had to do from the two links you sent me.
> first I cloned synfig from guthub.
> then I downloaded boost\_1\_55\_0 and extracted it to /opt.
> then I compiled it by running the commands:
>
> `./bootstrap.sh --prefix=/opt/boost_1_55_0
> ./b2`
Did you install it as well?:
```auto
./b2 install
```
Make sure that /opt/boost\_1\_55\_0/include/ and /opt/boost\_1\_55\_0/lib/ both exist and have the expected content (ie. headers and library files).
> [@og\_da\_trog](#):
>
> then I created the build.sh file inside the synfig folder that was created when I cloned synfig from guthub.
>
> [code]#!/bin/sh
> cd synfig
> CPUS=4
> prefix=$(pwd)/install
> export PKG\_CONFIG\_PATH=“$prefix/lib/pkgconfig”
> export PATH=$(pwd)/synfig-core/src/tool/.libs:$PATH
> export CXX=“/usr/bin/ccache /usr/bin/g++”
>
> cd ETL &&
> autoreconf --install --force &&
> ./configure --prefix $prefix &&
> make install &&
>
> cd …/synfig-core &&
> libtoolize --ltdl --copy --force &&
> autoreconf --install --force &&
> ./configure --prefix $prefix &&
> make -j $CPUS install &&
>
> cd …/synfig-studio &&
> autoreconf --install --force &&
> ./configure --prefix $prefix &&
> make -j $CPUS install[/code]
>
> that is what was in the build.sh file
>
> I then changed:
>
> ```auto
> ./configure --prefix $prefix &&
> ```
>
> to
>
> ```auto
> ./configure --with-boost=/opt/boost_1_55_0 &&
> ```
>
> but it still doesnt work.
Only synfig-core needs the Boost library, did you add it to all three?
---
### Author:  [@d.j.a.y](https://forums.synfig.org/u/d.j.a.y)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/6 "2014-04-06T19:18:23Z")
> [@og\_da\_trog](#):
>
> I then changed:
> ./configure --prefix $prefix &&
>
> to
> ./configure --with-boost=/opt/boost\_1\_55\_0 &&
maybe that’s where the problem come from, you must keep “–prefix $prefix”
> [@djay](#):
>
> ./configure --with-boost=/opt/boost\_1\_55\_0 --enable-optimization=0 --prefix $prefix --enable-debug &&
> [@Boost lib \>= 1.53](https://forums.synfig.org/t/boost-lib-1-53/2911/1):
>
> In order to build synfig (core) you need [boost libs](http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/) \>= 1.53 since [Merge pull request #105 from genete/dynamics](https://github.com/synfig/synfig/commit/7a4931a08531c9997eb60e6832b5843788b1c99a) Odeint : Solving ordinary differential equations. Author(s) : Karsten Ahnert and Mario Mulansky First Release : 1.53.0 On debian wheezy, i have tried to update boost from [jessie repository](https://packages.debian.org/search?suite=jessie&arch=any&searchon=names&keywords=libboost) without success and actually, i can’t build ! … / EDIT / few days later … done ! , thank’s to g’ to be there next to this forum … Solved (in my case) by a commit (so if you are here,…
(part of my fault, my summary was not very clear, i have rewrited it)
---
### Author:  [@og\_da\_trog](https://forums.synfig.org/u/og_da_trog)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2014, 8:36am UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/7 "2014-04-07T08:36:53Z")
okay, so I got rid of the first problem.
I had forgotten to type the
```auto
./b2 install
```
and when I looked for the include and lib folders they didnt exist, so I copied and pasted them from my /usr/local folder on my harddrive, and pasted them into my opt/boost\_1\_55\_0 folder.
now it works fine until it spits out this error.
> [@](#):
>
> make[2]: Entering directory `/home/django/synfig/synfig-core/po' make[2]: *** No rule to make target `…/src/modules/mod\_png/trgt\_png\_spritessheet.cpp’, needed by `synfig.pot-update'. Stop. make[2]: Leaving directory `/home/django/synfig/synfig-core/po’
> make[1]: \*\*\* [synfig.pot] Error 2
> make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/django/synfig/synfig-core/po’
> make: \*\*\* [install-recursive] Error 1
I have no idea what it means, tried googling but still to no avail.
any help would be appreciated thankyou
---
### Author:  [@jcome](https://forums.synfig.org/u/jcome)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2014, 10:56am UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/8 "2014-04-07T10:56:00Z")
> [@og\_da\_trog](#):
>
> now it works fine until it spits out this error.
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > make[2]: Entering directory `/home/django/synfig/synfig-core/po' make[2]: *** No rule to make target `…/src/modules/mod\_png/trgt\_png\_spritessheet.cpp’, needed by `synfig.pot-update'. Stop. make[2]: Leaving directory `/home/django/synfig/synfig-core/po’
> > make[1]: \*\*\* [synfig.pot] Error 2
> > make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/django/synfig/synfig-core/po’
> > make: \*\*\* [install-recursive] Error 1
>
> I have no idea what it means, tried googling but still to no avail.
> any help would be appreciated thankyou
there is typo, which is fixed in the master branch. Just pull the master to your local repository will work.
you can take a look at [github.com/synfig/synfig/pull/127](https://github.com/synfig/synfig/pull/127)
---
### Author:  [@og\_da\_trog](https://forums.synfig.org/u/og_da_trog)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/9 "2014-04-07T23:41:49Z")
okay, thankyou that fixed that problem, except now I get the error:
> [@](#):
>
> config.status: config.h is unchanged
> config.status: executing depfiles commands
> config.status: executing libtool commands
> config.status: executing po-directories commands
> config.status: creating po/POTFILES
> config.status: creating po/Makefile
> config.status: executing po/stamp-it commands
> config.status: error: po/Makefile.in.in was not created by intltoolize.
at this point it has changed directory to synfig-studio
I googled it a bit and it said to ‘touch’ makefile.in.in so I added:
```auto
touch makefile.in.in
```
before:
```auto
make -j -t $CPUS install
```
I also tried putting it before:
```auto
./configure
```
with both I still get the error, I’m stuck as to what to do next.
Thankyou for your help
---
### Author:  [@jcome](https://forums.synfig.org/u/jcome)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/10 "2014-04-08T00:43:46Z")
it seems there is some of dependents missed. please make sure all necessary packages are installed.
In fact there is a automation build script can help you to check. It is available in synfig/autobuild. go to this dir and
```auto
$sh synfigstudio-linux-build.sh
```
---
### Author:  [@Genete](https://forums.synfig.org/u/Genete)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2014, 4:38am UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/11 "2014-04-08T04:38:47Z")
You have to execute bootstrap.sh before .configure synfig studio.
-G
---
### Author:  [@og\_da\_trog](https://forums.synfig.org/u/og_da_trog)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2014, 7:37am UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/12 "2014-04-08T07:37:50Z")
oh my god yes it’s done!!
this has consumed my life for the lst 2 days c:
the
```auto
synfigstudio-linux-build.sh
```
I dont think did anything, it said that nothing had been changed
running `
./bootstrap
` before `
./configure
` didn’t fix my problem, however it may have helped it.
what I ended up having to do was add `
intltoolize --force --copy &&
` before `
./configure --with-boost=/opt/boost_1_55_0 --enable-optimization=0 --prefix $prefix --enable-debug &&
`
found from this thread: [url][[Success] 1 April Merge / 0.64pre on ubuntu12.04 like](https://forums.synfig.org/t/success-1-april-merge-0-64pre-on-ubuntu12-04-like/2399/1)]
and now it all works.
I hope to be an active dev. for synfig in the future
thankyou all once again.
---
### Author:  [@d.j.a.y](https://forums.synfig.org/u/d.j.a.y)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2014, 11:17am UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/13 "2014-04-08T11:17:09Z")
> [@og\_da\_trog](#):
>
> and now it all works.
welcome aboard 😉
Please, could you had “Solved” in the initial post title ?
---
### Author:  [@Genete](https://forums.synfig.org/u/Genete)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2014, 12:42pm UTC](https://forums.synfig.org/t/solved-error-could-not-link-against-boost-program-options/2963/14 "2014-04-08T12:42:08Z")
Please notice what does bootstrap.h do:
[github.com/synfig/synfig/blob/m … otstrap.sh](https://github.com/synfig/synfig/blob/master/synfig-studio/bootstrap.sh)
-G