config file location.

[Guillaume Rousse]

Maybe a stupid question, but I don't understand how config file location 
is to be handled with autotools.

autoconf evaluates quite logically sysconfdir to %(prefix)/etc, meaning 
/usr/local/etc by default, and /usr/etc when prefix is set to /usr. 
However, in real life, I never saw those directory used (at least in 
Linux world). rpm %configure macro, for instance, force --sysconfdir to 
/etc.

The GNU coding standards says
The directory for installing read-only data files that pertain to a 
single machine–that is to say, files for configuring a host. Mailer and 
network configuration files, /etc/passwd, and so forth belong here. All 
the files in this directory should be ordinary ASCII text files. This 
directory should normally be /usr/local/etc, but write it as 
$(prefix)/etc. (If you are using Autoconf, write it as address@hidden@'.)

Which sounds exactly like I just said: theory should be $(prefix)/etc, 
reality is /etc. And autoconf enforces theory.

So, am I supposed to use the sysconfdir macro, and have my configuration 
files installated in logical but unusual places by manual installation, 
or hardcode '/etc' path instead in my own programs and makefile.am ?


--
Everything always works in your HQ, everything always fails in the 
Colonel's HQ
                -- Murphy's Military Laws n°30