I was reading the documentation and found it quite vague:

> 
> To compile anything in Boost, you need a directory containing the boost/ subdirectory in your #include path. 
> 
> 
> Since all of Boost's header files have the .hpp extension, and live in
>  the boost/ subdirectory of the boost root, your Boost #include
>  directives will look like: 
> 
> 
> 

```
#include <boost/whatever.hpp>

```

> 
> or
> 
> 
> 

```
#include "boost/whatever.hpp"

```

> 
> depending on your preference regarding the use of angle bracket
>  includes.
> 
> 
> 

Am I supposed to always create a subdirectory named "boost" in my project root and then manually copy each .hpp file I need from my boost installation/header directory into the project\_root/boost directory?

I could also see telling Eclipse to automatically scan my boost root installation/include directory for the headers, thus avoiding the manual copy. Also, I could see making a soft link to the boost root installation/include directory into the project boost folder so as to include everything without having to make a single manual copy.

One difference I see is ***including the boost header files in my projects*** versus ***not including them in my project and referring to them externally***

I am not sure which of these strategies is right. Which is the best practice here?