Re: [bug-gnulib] AM_MKINSTALLDIRS obsolete?

[Bruno Haible]

Derek Price wrote:
> So, CVS hasn't fully imported gettext yet and therefore has no po
> directory, but if it had and did, it looks like my current, supported
> (I believe, based on your earlier comments) combination of autotools,
> Autoconf 2.59 & Automake 1.9.5, *does not* install and ship
> mkinstalldirs automatically even though these m4 macros are called and
> the MKINSTALLDIRS make macro is defined by the subsequent configure
> run.  So, until I upgrade to an Automake 1.10+, which understands the
> AC_REQUIRE_AUX_FILE macro, I would need to install mkinstalldirs in my
> build-aux dir by hand and perhaps include it in an EXTRA_DIST variable
> somewhere?

Are you using the AM_GNU_GETTEXT macro? If no, then it is normal that
autoconf and automake 1.9.5 don't install an 'mkinstalldirs' script, because
you don't need it.

If yes, then running 'gettextize' once will copy the 'mkinstalldirs' script
into your build-aux directory. (I'm not sure if gnulib-tool will do the same.
Anyway, gettextize does many more checks and updates all files that need an
update, therefore for a first-time use of gettext, I can recommend running
gettexize.)

> What is wrong with relying on Automake to fill the $(mkinstalldirs)
> macro and using that in po/Makefile.in.in?

We don't want po/Makefile.in.in to require the use of automake.
Whether to use automake or not, should be an independent decision than
whether to support internationalization or not.

Bruno