Re: about what goes into a distribution file

[Ralf Wildenhues]

Hello Reuben,

* Reuben Hawkins wrote on Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 05:33:07AM CET:
> The attached project (a trivial flex scanner) built with "make dist"
> includes scanner.c (generated by flex from scanner.l).  Why is scanner.c
> included?

Quoting automake.info:

|    You should never explicitly mention the intermediate (C or C++) file
| in any `SOURCES' variable; only list the source file.
| 
|    The intermediate files generated by `yacc' (or `lex') will be
| included in any distribution that is made.  That way the user doesn't
| need to have `yacc' or `lex'.

>  Can I somehow prevent it from being include without setting up a
> dist-hook rule?

Not with the current version of Automake, sorry.  I recommend that you
document the Lex requirement for your users, and only require your users
to have Lex if there is no other way.

If you like, you can file an enhancement bug on the bug-automake list
that allows for this; please include a rationale, so we can judge
importance of this feature.  I'm not sure if automake should detect non
distribution from scanning CLEANFILES.  Stefano is more into the lex and
yacc business ATM, he might have some input on this.

Thanks,
Ralf