G++ can't find boost libraries. I say they're in plain sight

Question

I'm trying to build some code. Here is the error I'm getting:

main.o: In function `__static_initialization_and_destruction_0':
/home/jmbeck/Downloads/boost_1_48_0/boost/system/error_code.hpp:214: undefined reference to `boost::system::generic_category()'

There is more, but I don't think it's relevant.

Here is the build command:

g++ -I/home/jmbeck/Downloads/boost_1_48_0 
    -L/home/jmbeck/Downloads/boost_1_48_0/stage/lib 
    -lm 
    -lboost_system 
    -lboost_thread
    -lboost_regex 
    main.cpp

The /home/jmbeck/Downloads/boost_1_48_0/stage/lib directory contains the expected files:

libboost_system.a
libboost_system.so@
libboost_system.so.1.48.0*
libboost_thread.a
libboost_thread.so@
libboost_thread.so.1.48.0* 
libboost_regex.a
libboost_regex.so@
libboost_regex.so.1.48.0*
... etc...

I've tried building a quick program that didn't use the pre-compiled libraries, and it compiled just fine. It finds the appropriate headers, but not the libraries.

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

Try putting the libraries after main.cpp.

I've experienced some weirdness in the past when GCC ignores libraries because it doesn't think they're used, before reaching my source files.