Re: autotools

[a.l.e <ale...@xo...>]

On Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:39:35 +0400
Nikita Melnikov <ku...@sl...> wrote:

> On Sun, Jul 25, 2010 at 07:22:06PM +0200, a.l.e wrote:
> > hi
> > 
> > > > > > why not cmake? its cross platform, autohell is not.
> > > > > 
> > > > > http://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf/
> > > > > "These scripts can adapt the packages to many kinds of
> > > > > UNIX-like systems without manual user intervention."
> > > > > your statement about cross-platform is wrong.
> > 
> > never "actively" used autoconf myself but, please: stay away of it!
> > 
> > most projects are leaving it: some go for the manual tweaking of
> > the config files, the others cmake.
> > 
> > autoconf is dying. don't stop the process.
> > 
> > this is what people actually managing free software projects are
> > saying. they must have good reasons!
> 
> havent used it either, but hell, there are so many projects using it
> for 10+ years, i dont see any reasons why a simple minimalistic app
> like cmus should use something else. autotools are 'basic', default,
> it's a standard. sure thing cmake has some advantages, as well as
> ant, etc, but i think that autotools does it job quite well...
> anyway, someone on the list has stated already that he will implement
> the patch, so this is no question any more ;)

as you want.

the main points i get from the project i'm involved in for not using autoconf:

- it's hard to create an initial script for a project which is not trivial.

- if the current script is not perfect, it is not easy to tweak it as the project adds new features.

- for projects which are trivial (like cmus?) it's overkill and you'd better tweak the configuration files (afaik, this is how it is done, now).


finally, i don't know of any project having switched to autoconf or any new project using autoconf.
(but know of some having switched to cmake).
there must be a reason for it.

... and i wonder a bit from where you get the impression that autoconf are basic and default (today)...


however, if there is somebody who is committing to maintaining the configuration files for cmus, well it may be ok then.
just make sure that the main devs understand the script and can tweak it if needed.


ciao
a.l.e