Prerequisite

aclocal

wget ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/m4/m4-1.4.10.tar.gz

Extracting files from the downloaded package:

tar -xvzf m4-1.4.10.tar.gz

Now, enter the directory where the package is extracted.

$ cd m4-1.4.10

Configuring m4:

./configure --prefix=/usr/local/m4

Replace “/usr/local/m4” above with the directory path where you want to copy the files and folders. Note: check for any error message.

Compiling m4:

make

Autoconf

source : http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/automake/

autoconf install HOWTO

Autotools unifies the build process of C/C++ applications(and libraries) by auto-generating consistent Makefile.

Autotool Diagram

1. Run $ autoscan to generate and configure.scan and copy the file as configure.ac

Generated scan file looks like :

                                               -*- Autoconf -*-
# Process this file with autoconf to produce a configure script.

AC_PREREQ([2.69])
AC_INIT([FULL-PACKAGE-NAME], [VERSION], [BUG-REPORT-ADDRESS])
AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([hello-core/main.c])
AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h])

# Checks for programs.
AC_PROG_CC

# Checks for libraries.

# Checks for header files.
AC_CHECK_HEADERS([stdlib.h])

# Checks for typedefs, structures, and compiler characteristics.

# Checks for library functions.

AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile
                 hello-core/Makefile
                 tester/Makefile])
AC_OUTPUT


2. Edit configure.ac

Replace the FULL-PACKAGE-NAME, VERSION.

Insert a line AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE.

Add following lines for:

  • AC_PROG_RANLIB Library Compiles
  • AC_LANG(C++) Build C++ src
  • AC_PROG_CXX Build C src
  • AC_PROG_CC Build C src(alternative)

3. Run $ aclocal to generate aclocal.m4 file.


4. For Each Directories for compilation, write Makefile.am

On top directory,

# ./Makefile.am
SUBDIRS = hello-core tester

For sub-directories,

# ./hello-core/Makefile.am
bin_PROGRAMS = hello
hello_SOURCES = hello.c main.c

KDLP wiki Autotools

5. Create mandatory files.

touch NEWS README AUTHORS ChangeLog

6. Run $ autoconf

Generate configure file

7. For any edits, run $ autoreconf -fvi

This is the end of distribution

8. Users can compile the source by :

./configure
./make

Install Troubleshoot

%n in writable segment detected ***

Search for the script where ‘%n’ was used.

grep "%n" -R