Re: configure.ac, Makefile.am question

[Peter O'Gorman]

Ralf Wildenhues wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> * address@hidden wrote on Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 06:07:22PM CEST:
>> >From the very beginning, lies my intention in this point: As there are
>> features to correct and implement, I do not want to have any extra
>> headaches from the svn users like "Oh, i can't `make install` it here"
>> and then i have to troubleshoot that also, finding out that the
>> configure.ac/Makefile.ams has/have been manipulated -wrongly-.. 
> 
> You might as well weight that with the case where the user knows better
> than you or autotools; i.e., where your build system was not portable
> enough for some reason.

Yes, even if you have a wide range of systems to test on, it is highly
likely that some user has something different, and they will attempt to
get your software running on their platform only to be foiled by the
lack of configure.ac and Makefile.am.

By not distributing those files you will harm the portability of your
software, those with different systems will be unable to send you
patches, only bug reports (and they may not even bother with bug
reports, personally, I would just give up and delete it).

Peter
-- 
Peter O'Gorman
http://pogma.com