LYNX-DEV locating lynx.cfg (was 2-8 help: Help!)

[Philip Webb]

980306 Nelson Henry Eric & Jonathan Sergent had a discussion:
-- lots of thoughts snipped --
> You can of course run make install and edit the installed lynx.cfg,
> or run lynx with lynx.cfg in the cwd prior to installing a config file
> at all, or any number of other things.
> 
> This is the specific area that needs to be explained in INSTALLATION,
> not so much for the first time user, who would edit the lynx.cfg file
> before running configure (if they read the instructions),
> but for the longtime user who has a customized lynx.cfg file
> they have always just pointed lynx to, without copying, editing or patching.

this is the vital distinction, which i keep reminding people of.
i've been trying to imitate -- it comes easily -- the behaviour
of the average user out there, who tries to follow the instructions
with intelligence but not with religious devotion.

there IS a gap in the advice in  INSTALLATION
& -- to my mind -- bad behaviour by 2-8 +  configure .
Lynx should always take the location of  lynx.cfg  from  userdefs.h
& never from  config.cache; Joe out there should be told (in this order):
(1) "edit  userdefs.h , which contains your compile-time options;
    the most important thing Lynx will need when running is  lynx.cfg ,
    which will define your normal run-time options:
    you need to tell Lynx where to find  lynx.cfg ";
(2) "run  ./configure , with whatever switches you want (see  --help ),
    which will create a  makefile  to control compilation on your system
    & subsequent installation (unless you do that by hand);
    if you run into a problem, remove  config.cache ,
    to be sure you won't pick up old incorrect values";
(3) "run  make  to compile;
    if you run into a problem, run  make clean  (among other things)";
(4) "(optional) run  make install  to move files where you want them
    & generally tidy up; you can do this manually if you prefer";
(5) "edit your  lynx.cfg  to give the run-time options you usually use;
    you can alter this file at any time in the future,
    but if you change its location you must tell Lynx
    by using  LYNX_CFG  or  -cfg ".

this is the outline; it should explain what  configure  &  make  do
& it should put the steps in the correct order for the average user.

-- 
========================,,============================================
SUPPORT     ___________//___,  Philip Webb : address@hidden
ELECTRIC   /] [] [] [] [] []|  Centre for Urban & Community Studies
TRANSIT    `-O----------O---'  University of Toronto