# Installation

To install Boost.Build from an official release or a nightly build, as available on the official web site, follow these steps:

1. Unpack the release. On the command line, go to the root of the unpacked tree.

2. Run either `.\bootstrap.bat` (on Windows), or `./bootstrap.sh` (on other operating systems).

3. Run

       ./b2 install --prefix=PREFIX

   where PREFIX is a directory where you want Boost.Build to be installed.

4. Optionally, add `PREFIX/bin` to your `PATH` environment variable.

If you are not using a Boost.Build package, but rather the version bundled with the Boost C++ Libraries, the above commands should be run in the `tools/build` directory.

Now that Boost.Build is installed, you can try some of the examples. Copy `PREFIX/share/boost-build/examples/hello` to a different directory, then change to that directory and run:

    PREFIX/bin/b2

A simple executable should be built.