Re: How to autoconf...

[Braden McDaniel]

On Thu, 2003-07-31 at 14:27, Frank A. Uepping wrote:
> Hi,
> assume someone has finished a software project and wants to distribute it
> with autoconf. Currently the software compiles and runs on the platform of
> the developer; though the developer is interested to get the software run on
> other platforms as well, if there is a need (note, the developer has no
> access to the other sites).
> Autoconf has many feature test macros that allow for testing verything.
>   Should the developer analyze its software for all the required features
> it needs and fit out configure.ac with a test for it (which will makec 
> onfigure fail if the test fails).
>   Or should the developer distribute its software with a minimal configure.ac
> and let the compilation fail if something is incompatible.
> What is the right strategy?

To the other comments I'll add this: view configure's ability to "fail
fast" when things aren't going to work as a side effect of its role. Its
role is to make different configurations work. If you can't make it do
that, adding logic that does nothing other than fail fast is a waste of
time.

-- 
Braden McDaniel                           e-mail: <address@hidden>
<http://endoframe.com>                    Jabber: <address@hidden>