autoreconf command in Linux with examples (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 3 Jun, 2021

autoreconf is a Autotool which is used to create automatically buildable source code for Unix-like systems. Autotool is a common name for autoconf, automake, etc. These all together are termed as Autotools.

Important Points:

• Provides Portability of source code packages by automatic buildable capability.
• Provides common build facilities like make install.
• Automatic dependency generation for C/C++.

autoreconf [OPTION]... [DIRECTORY]...

• -h, --help : Print the help message and exit.
• -V, --version : Used to show the version number, and then exit.
• -v, --verbose : Verbosely report processing.
• -d, --debug : Don't remove temporary files.
• -f, --force : This option is used to consider all files obsolete.
• -i, --install : Copy missing auxiliary files.
• --no-recursive : Don't rebuild sub-packages.
• -s, --symlink : With -i option it is used to install symbolic links instead of copies.
• -m, --make : When applicable, re-run ./configure && make.

Note: Autotools are used to make automatically buildable source code for distribution purpose.

Important Configuration Files:

• configure.ac : Describes configuration for autoreconf.
• Makefile.am : Describes sources of program files and compiler flags for automake.
  • Step 1: Make a directory and a C program file.

• Hello, World Program

#include void main() { printf("Hello, World"); }

• Step 2: Make a configure.ac file for autoreconf.

initialize the process

AC_INIT([hello], [0.01])

make config headers

AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h]) #Auxiliary files go here AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR([build-aux])

init automake

AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.11]) #configure and create "Makefile" AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile]) #find and probe C compiler AC_PROG_CC #End AC_OUTPUT

• Step 3: Make a Makefile.am for automake.

#list of programs to be installed in bin directory bin_PROGRAMS = hello #sources for targets hello_SOURCES = hello.c

• Step 4: Run the following commands on terminal. It will give an error because it is for distribution purpose and VCS(Version Control System) should have some standard license files.

• Step 5: Lets make license files.

• Step 6: Retry

• Step 6: Now, Let's run the program. See, now Hello, World is printed on the screen