Re: distributions build with autoconf are not re-locatable

[Eric Blake]

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According to C.J. Adams-Collier on 9/28/2007 7:02 PM:
> Hey all,
> 
> Since we allow multiple absolute paths to be specified as arguments to
> ./configure, there is no easy way to re-locate a distribution, short
> of finding a relative path between --prefix and other paths specified
> as absolute.

This sounds like a good use case for the relocatable-{lib,prog,script}
modules in gnulib; here's the texinfo source for the documentation
regarding their use:

http://git.sv.gnu.org/gitweb/?p=gnulib.git;a=blob;f=doc/relocatable.texi;h=b79fb18;hb=HEAD
http://git.sv.gnu.org/gitweb/?p=gnulib.git;a=blob;f=doc/relocatable-maint.texi;h=c743d4a;hb=HEAD

> 
> To allow autoconf to participate in the generation of relocatable
> distributions, I propose that except in the case of --prefix, the use
> of absolute paths by path args be deprecated.

You would have to propose this change to the GNU Coding Standards first,
address@hidden, since this would be a change to:
http://www.gnu.org/prep/standards/html_node/Directory-Variables.html#Directory-Variables

> 
> Current functionality:
> 
> Specification of an absolute path is allowed for all path args.
> 
> Proposed post-deprecation functionality:
> 
> Specification of an absolute path is only allowed for --prefix.   If
> an absolute path is specified for a path arg other than --prefix, the
> absolute path will be converted to a path relative to the value of
> --prefix.

Not always possible (consider people who do --prefix=/usr
- --sysconfdir=/etc).  But if you care to write a patch, we will certainly
take a look at it.

As it is, the documentation for autoconf _already_ recommends using
relative paths - for example, bindir defaults to '$(exec_prefix)/bin', so
that it appears relative to --exec-prefix.

- --
Don't work too hard, make some time for fun as well!

Eric Blake             address@hidden
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