[Gnu-arch-users] Re: arch and autotools projects.

[Stefan Monnier]

[ Warning: I've never actually had the occasion to try it. ]

I think the way it *should* work could be something like:

1 - Call the autoconf-generated makefile autoconf.mk (and autoconf.mk.in).
2 - Use a Makefile that includes autoconf.mk (but doesn't fail if it
    doesn't exist) and add a `prepare' rule which describes how to
    run autoconf and friends.

Ideally I'd replace the

        ./configure --foo=bar
        make
        make install

with

        make config foo=bar
        make
        make install

Or maybe I'd lobby for autoconf to come with a /usr/bin/configure
program which runs directly off of the autoconf files, so you can say

        configure --foo=bar

instead of

        ./configure --foo=bar

It could work by running autoheader/autoconf/automake/... for you
in a standard way and then running the generated `configure' file.

In any case, an important goal is to have in your repository all the
required information (ideally in executable form, but otherwise in
a README or INSTALL file) to rebuild the code at a later date.


        Stefan