ABOUT-NLS

[Micah Cowan]

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Automake complains/dies if ABOUT-NLS is missing from packages that use
GNU gettext.

However, the ABOUT-NLS file contains much content that assumes the
package includes gettext (libintl). For this reason I had removed
ABOUT-NLS from Wget repositories (which I had only recently added in
during our move to Automake), thus discovering Automake's issued error.

For myself at the moment, I'm fine with putting it back in and eliding
the inaccurate information about running ./configure --with-included
gettext, etc. For the longer term, though, might I suggest that
ABOUT-NLS be modified to include verbage such as "this package may
support", "if this package includes an intl/ directory", or similar, to
qualify those places where accompanying gettext is assumed?

Alternatively, an ABOUT-NLS "lite" might be provided, for use by
projects that don't include gettext in their packages, eliding the
inapplicable content.

One example of the sort of thing I'm talking about:

> If you want to exploit the full power of internationalization, you
> should configure it using
> 
>      ./configure --with-included-gettext
> 
> to force usage of internationalizing routines provided within this
> package, despite the existence of internationalizing capabilities in the
> operating system where this package is being installed.

If one of these changes are agreeable, I'd be happy to submit a patch to
this effect.

Benno, I'm mailing you because the gettext info manual says to send
queries to you.

I'm also mailing the automake list to allow them to discuss whether the
requirement on ABOUT-NLS should be altered (I'm guessing it's probably
better to alter ABOUT-NLS as mentioned though).

- --
Micah J. Cowan
Programmer, musician, typesetting enthusiast, gamer...
http://micah.cowan.name/
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