C++ Boost Libraries inside platformio

About

This is just a package for platformio to enable you to use parts from the C++ Boost libraries.

Boost requires a working C++ compiler.

Boost is normally created to work on desktop systems. But some of the header only libraries can work also on embedded systems.

Be aware that Boost was not created specifically for embedded systems (with memory and cpu constraints), so use with care.

Specific platform information

Arduino on ESP8266

Too many defines

First, Arduino code is doing way too many #defines. Some of them are overwriting functions from different namespaces (like std) and some of them are so short that they can overwrite a lot of things.

Non exhaustive list:

• F
• max
• abs
• B1

You should load Arduino.h and after that, do some #undefs. Especially the F (flash stored strings) define can hit you hard.

I'll try to provide in the future a library for helping you with these.

Working classes/libraries

What worked (non exhaustive list, based on my current needs):

• boost::string_view
• boost::circular_buffer
• boost::optional
• boost::system::error_code
• boost::variant - https://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_71_0/doc/html/variant.html
• boost::msm - Meta State Machine - which means also boost::mpl