Re: strncasecmp dcl

[Akim Demaille]

>>>>> "Werner" == Werner LEMBERG <address@hidden> writes:

>> Now, I took some more time to think about it, and here is my
>> proposal: when $4 is not given (was introduced in 2.50a, did not
>> exist before, so we are free to do whatever we want with it), just
>> do what Autoconf always did: merely check it can be preprocessed
>> --- yuck, how sad CPP was chosen here :-( ---, but when $4 is
>> given, test with the compiler.

Werner> I like this.  If it is properly documented (with an example),
Werner> I don't see any problems.

Werner> Will you add a predefined test for string.h/strings.h (which I
Werner> would like to see)?

Nope, I want to keep the interface as simple as possible.  Writing
such a macro is really simple if you need it, but I don't want it in
Autoconf.

I expect some side effects on some configure.in with the following
patch.  But I think it should go into Autoconf anyway, any other
solution is just useless complication.

The most important thing will be to display how people should use
HAVE_STRINGS_H from now on.  NEWS will be extended, and the section
for upgrading too.  This patch is here for comments.

Index: ChangeLog
from  Akim Demaille  <address@hidden>
        * acgeneral.m4 (_AC_INCLUDES_DEFAULT_REQUIREMENTS): Include
        strings.h if usable with string.h.
        Suggested by Paul Eggert.

Index: NEWS
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/autoconf/NEWS,v
retrieving revision 1.169
diff -u -u -r1.169 NEWS
--- NEWS 2001/07/01 19:41:20 1.169
+++ NEWS 2001/07/03 17:01:37
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 ** Default includes
 - Now include stdint.h.
 - sys/types.h and sys/stat.h are guarded.
+- strings.h is included if available, and not conflicting with string.h.
 
 ** Bug fixes
 - The test suite is more robust and presents less false failures.
Index: doc/autoconf.texi
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/autoconf/doc/autoconf.texi,v
retrieving revision 1.479
diff -u -u -r1.479 autoconf.texi
--- doc/autoconf.texi 2001/07/03 14:12:40 1.479
+++ doc/autoconf.texi 2001/07/03 17:01:38
@@ -2820,11 +2820,10 @@
 #  include <memory.h>
 # endif
 # include <string.h>
-#else
-# if HAVE_STRINGS_H
-#  include <strings.h>
-# endif
 #endif
+#if HAVE_STRINGS_H
+# include <strings.h>
+#endif
 #if HAVE_INTTYPES_H
 # include <inttypes.h>
 #else
@@ -2839,8 +2838,14 @@
 @end example
 
 If the default includes are used, then Autoconf will automatically check
-for the presence of these headers, i.e., you don't need to run
address@hidden, nor check for @file{stdlib.h} etc.
+for the presence of these headers and their compatibility, i.e., you
+don't need to run @code{AC_HEADERS_STDC}, nor check for @file{stdlib.h}
+etc.
+
+These headers are checked for in the same order as they are included.
+For instance, on some systems @file{string.h} and @file{strings.h} both
+exist, but conflict.  Then @code{HAVE_STRING_H} will be defined, but
address@hidden won't.
 
 @node Alternative Programs, Libraries, Common Behavior, Existing Tests
 @section Alternative Programs