Title: How to build stuff using autoconf and automake (configure.in, configure.ac, Makefile.am) slug: autotools.md
Here's the deal: building stuff that uses autotools isn't just *./configure && make && make install*. I keep forgetting how to use the build system and there's no page on the net that explains it clearly. You've got lots of things to choose from, including *aclocal*, *autoconf*, *autoreconf*, *automake*, etc. Myself, I got rather confused.OK, it's easier than I thought: autoreconf -fvi ./configure make
That is, you only do autoreconf -fvi before the usual commands. Special thanks to Reddit user Rhomboid who pointed out you can do that instead of invoking all steps by hand.
When done with the above list, you can do make install — but really, who does that nowadays? Instead use checkinstall to catch the files being installed into a package that can later be uninstalled cleanly, reinstalled, and so on.
#Don't forget the packages If you're getting errors such as: error: possibly undefined macro: AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
then you might have to install the libtool package.
Seriously, would it hurt GNU to include info for users on how to use autotools? The autoconf manpage doesn't even mention the aclocal tool or that you probably just want to run autoreconf -fvi. Come on guys, get your heads out of your asses, start being user friendly. Having to fight your computer is so trite.