Move from handcrafted makefile to libtool

[Stepan Kasal]

Hello,
  project newt currently uses handcrafted makefiles and installs
libnewt like this:

/usr/lib/libnewt.so.0.52.1
/usr/lib/libnewt.so.0.52 -> libnewt.so.0.52.1

where SONAME is libnewt.so.0.52

We would like use automake with the project, which means libtool
should be used for shared libraries.

Is there a way to get the above soname, so that current applications
need not be recompiled?

The option -version-number seems to generate sonames in form
        libname.so.n

Or is there a way to modify the builddir/libtool script to get this?

Please CC me, I'm not subscribed.

Thanks for any help,
        Stepan Kasal