Re: A Closer Look at GNU AutoTools

[Johan Persson]

On 2014-09-04 19:47, Shawn H Corey wrote: 

> I have just added an article to my blog on my programming language
> about the GNU AutoTools. Please feel free to comment.
> 
> http://kori-programming-language.blogspot.ca/2014/09/a-closer-look-at-gnu-autotools.html
>  [1]

Well in my humble opinion, the manuals are just that, (technical)
manuals. Meaning reference material when you already have a kind of
mental overview. When I first tried to get to grip with the tools I also
found it difficult to understand how it all fitted together and where
the magic started and where it stopped. 

The hands down best (and the only worth naming) introduction to the tool
set is "Autotools, A practitioner's guide" by John Calcote which I
consider to be the missing introduction to the tool chain. After reading
through that you will have a very god birds view of the tools. Having
had that book 10 years ago would have saved me many days of trial,
errors and head scratching. 

Note however , that there are still some common patterns which all
semi-complex SW will face that you wont find written down in any receipt
collection. But then this list is good to use since it is highly likely
that the issue you are facing already have a (more or less) accepted
standard-solution but not necessarily a trivial one. 
 

Links:
------
[1]
http://kori-programming-language.blogspot.ca/2014/09/a-closer-look-at-gnu-autotools.html