Re: [matplotlib-devel] autoconf+python

[Eric F. <ef...@ha...>]

On 2013/01/07 7:24 AM, Benjamin Root wrote:
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 7, 2013 at 12:11 PM, Thomas Kluyver <th...@kl...
> <mailto:th...@kl...>> wrote:
>
>     On 7 January 2013 16:57, Benjamin Root <ben...@ou...
>     <mailto:ben...@ou...>> wrote:
>
>         I was just reading some comments from Richard Stallman on ./
>         when I noticed that he pointed out a useful autoconf feature
>         that was added somewhat recently.  Essentially, this feature
>         would allow one to do a build/install of a python module using
>         the "./configure; make install" approach, if one chooses.  Maybe
>         it should be something to consider adding to our build system?
>
>
>     My 2 cents: I took over the maintenance of a Python project built by
>     autotools. The build system felt more complex than the actual
>     application - a fantastic world of .am files generating .in files
>     generating Makefiles, which themselves were packed with
>     abstractions. I had little idea how to change anything in the build
>     process, and before long I ripped it out in favour of setup.py,
>     despite all distutils' flaws.
>
>     I'm sure that's more a question of my experience than of autotools,
>     but I'd think twice before adding it to a project.
>
>     Best wishes,
>     Thomas
>
>
> That's a very good point.  I certainly don't want to add significant
> complexity to our build system.  We certainly have enough of it as-is.
> I was hoping that there was a way to complement our setup.py approach.
> In other words, "python setup.py install" would be our primary means of
> build/install, while allowing for "make install" as an alternative.  I
> have yet to actually look into how this current autoconf feature would
> work and if that is even possible.

Ben,

What specific problem with our present system would you be trying to 
solve?  I'm with Thomas on this--and there's a reason why people keep 
trying to develop new build systems, like cmake, scons, and waf, instead 
of being content with autotools.

Eric

>
> Ben Root