Re: gnulib-tool and autoreconf

[Eric Blake]

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According to Bruno Haible on 12/6/2008 3:18 AM:
> It would seem odd to have 'autoreconf' invoke 'gnulib-tool'. gnulib-tool
> is a tool that *fetches* source files, whereas autoreconf is a tool that
> *combines* source files, generating additional files from them.
> Therefore gnulib-tool logically belongs before autoreconf.
> 
> Also I'd like to avoid to have mutual dependencies between autoconf/automake
> and gnulib.
> 
> Therefore I would find it better if autopoint had an option that tells it
> not to overwrite .m4 files installed by gnulib-tool, or if that behaviour
> was even the default. What do you think?

I think that would work.  Right now, the problem is that gnulib-tool must
run before aclocal, but after autopoint, and hence, incompatible with
autoreconf.  But changing the default of autopoint to not overwrite newer
serial numbers would mean that you can safely run gnulib-tool then
autoreconf, without having to modify autoreconf to pass some new option to
autopoint.  I think it is the existence, and proper maintenance, of m4
serial numbers that will make your proposed change to autopoint worthwhile.

- --
Don't work too hard, make some time for fun as well!

Eric Blake             address@hidden
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