Re: [bug-gnulib] autoreconf --install vs. gnulib-tool

[Bruno Haible]

Eric Blake wrote:
> I was wondering if it would be worth teaching gnulib-tool about all the files 
> that `autoreconf --install' normally installs, and then updating those files 
> from gnulib's repository as part of `gnulib-tool --update'.

Oops, that's far beyond what gnulib intends to be. gnulib-tool so far only
touches the specified directories and the ChangeLogs. I believe such a
functionality belongs in automake.

You are asking here the gnulib people because gnulib is one of the first
GNU packages that has abandoned the classical model of release distribution,
and presents the newest files at URLs that can be used with wget. What you
need, I think, is that automake adopts the same "newest files always
available" philosophy for the files that it installs, and integrates
this philosophy into automake.

It's also on the TODO list for GNU gettext to apply this philosophy for
the PO directories: Translations often are completed after a package
is released; it would be welcome if during the build of a package
the newest PO files could be downloaded.

So, please ask on the automake list!

Bruno