Re: place automake files separately from source files

[Ralf Wildenhues]

* Ralf Wildenhues wrote on Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 11:01:07AM CEST:
> It is possible to use different names than Makefile.am for the automake
> input files, with a caveat: in recursion rules, automake outputs plain
> `$(MAKE)' only, without -f.  That still allows the following: for the
> transition time, you can require GNU make to be used, and use only files
> named GNUmakefile.am for automake.  The generated GNUmakefile files will
> be read and executed by GNU make instead of any Makefile files then.

Thinking about it a bit more, it should be possible without GNU make
even: name all automake input files foobar.am, list each foobar in
configure.ac:AC_CONFIG_FILES, and add
  AM_MAKEFLAGS = -f foobar

to the toplevel foobar.am.  Given that AM_MAKEFLAGS is not needed for
any other purpose, that should invoke all recursive make on the foobar
files.  Of course, this still requires the user to
  make -f foobar

on the toplevel, or some additional logic in the toplevel Makefile.

> After the transition is done, you could remove all old Makefile files,
> rename all GNUmakefile.am to Makefile.am, and adjust configure.ac.

This then still applies with s/GNUmakefile.am/foobar.am/.

Cheers,
Ralf