Re: Automake 1.12.0b test release

[Stefano Lattarini]

[Re-adding the list, because I think the issue might be of general interest]

On 05/20/2012 12:59 AM, Bob Friesenhahn wrote:
> Stefano,
> 
> This change will cause significant issues for GraphicsMagick unless there is
> a workaround:
> 
>   - Support for the two- and three-arguments invocation forms of the
>     AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE macro will be deprecated in the next minor version
>     of Automake (1.12.1) and removed in the next major version (1.13).
> 
> GraphicsMagick invokes it like
> 
> AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE($PACKAGE_NAME,"${PACKAGE_VERSION}${PACKAGE_VERSION_ADDENDUM}",
>  ' ')
> 
> The reason is because it avoids needing to edit configure.ac (a really stupid
> practice) every time a new release tarball will be cut. Instead the version
> information to apply is computed by a script which is sourced by configure.
> 
> What is the workaround for this?
>
Yes: the version-generating script should be executed at autoconf runtime 
instead;
here is what GNU coreutils does, for example:

  AC_INIT([GNU coreutils],
           m4_esyscmd([build-aux/git-version-gen .tarball-version]),
           address@hidden)

This usage is also compatible with older Automake versions BTW, so you could
start using it right now if you want.

HTH,
  Stefano