Re: [PATCH] Document libtool variable to_host_file_cmd.

[Ralf Wildenhues]

* Charles Wilson wrote on Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 07:37:23PM CEST:
> On 9/17/2010 1:30 PM, Ralf Wildenhues wrote:
> > OK.  Why the  s/system/platform/ changes though?  I see that
> > libtool.texi uses platform a lot, and also uses system quite a bit but
> > not quite as often.  Other GNU documentation I think prefers system
> > however.  Or are you trying to make a distinction between both terms?
> 
> Yes, the GNU Build System is already mentioned (with an xref to the
> definition in another manual).  It refers to the whole
> autoconf/automake/libtool process flow, as distinct from imake or scons
> or whatever.

Oh, you're right.  Hmm, difference in "GNU" prefix and in capitalization
...  ;-)

> IMO, using 'build system' to refer to the $build platform could be
> confused with that term.
> 
> If other GNU documentation uses the same phrase to mean two different
> things, that doesn't mean we should do so as well.

True, but 'build system' as referring to the thing the compiler runs on
is fairly enshrined terminology in the GNU toolchain (GCC, binutils,
etc).  I don't think there is a chance that will get replaced anytime.

Actually, I'm having a deja vu.  We discussed this before I guess.

> > In that case, they should probably be defined somewhere (and I'd venture
> > to say that they are not good terms to try to differentiate, because
> > most users will not think there could be a difference).
> 
> We don't have a choice; the GNU Build System has already been given that
> name by others, and we can't change that.  Our only choice is whether to
> use a term that could be confused with it: 'build system' or not.  I say
> not, whenever possible -- but I'm not doctrinaire about it. I'm not
> about to go thru all of libtool.texi with a red pen, changing 'build
> system' everywhere I see it...but to_host_file_cmd and to_tool_file_cmd
> are so similar -- and defvar'ed so close together, that I thought they
> should use similar terminology.

OK agreed.  Let's take the patch as it is, at least 'platform' is hard to
misunderstand, too.

Thanks,
Ralf