The patch include the autogen.sh script to create the configure script. Is mostly the default to make on first time the needed script.
As note: Has added to yad a way to do a cross talk between them and the script to allow changes on script during runtime. Is used from me for a multi platform build system on kodi. Hope in the next time to sync with your perfect dialog code and if you find it ok to bring a enhancement ticket here.
Yad currently have the changes: https://bitbucket.org/kodi-web/mupel-yad/src
Scripts who use them: https://github.com/EsMaSol/mupel
A Screenshot:
As alternative can also bootstrap be used, has used your short call inside. I'm not complete sure what is the best name for it, one app use bootstrap and the next autogen.sh.
I think bootstrap is better, some of the others has also the confgure include.
i think, autogen.sh is not needed here. the separate accumulative script for generating build system was need in autoconf 2.13 and early versions. yad requires autoconf 2.59 or later. in this versions of gnu autotools you can use "autoreconf -i" command for regenerating all of configure staff.