Re: [configure bug while building] flex beta version 2.5.15

[Bruce Lilly]

Paul Eggert wrote:
> > Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 22:58:59 -0400
> > From: Bruce Lilly <address@hidden>
>
>
> > It was reported as a bug in the bison 1.33 configure
> > script ca. 22 Feb 2002.
>
>
> Thanks, I found that bug report in
> <http://mail.gnu.org/pipermail/bug-bison/2002-February/001279.html>.
>
> I don't understand the IFS problem that it mentions.  The current CVS
> Autoconf outputs a script that sets IFS to space, tab, newline early
> on.  Perhaps you were using an older Autoconf that didn't do that?

FWIW, that configure script says:

# Generated by GNU Autoconf 2.52h for GNU Bison 1.33.

I haven't seen the IFS problem in other configure scripts
recently, so maybe it has been fixed, or maybe there was
another issue with that particular shell.

> Also, the bug report mentioned PS3, but I'd rather leave PS3 alone as
> it's not specified by POSIX 1003.1-2001.  Portable scripts don't use
> "select" and don't rely on $? from "select", so I don't think PS3 is a
> real problem.

I think PS1 was the real problem.  Resetting or unsetting PS2 etc.
ought not to cause trouble but probably isn't critically important.

> However, I think ENV, MAIL, and MAILPATH should be unset, as they
> might cause similar problems with a buggy shell like the one that you
> describe.

I haven't seen problems with these, but unsetting them in
the script shouldn't cause any problems.

Thanks & best regards,
  Bruce Lilly