Re: [Groff] autoconf and autoreconf

[Keith Marshall]

On 13/04/13 14:52, Werner LEMBERG wrote:
> > I ran `autoconf'.  There was a subdirectory `autom4te.cache/'
> > created.  First I just deleted it.
>
> This is correct.
>
> > Then I learned that `autoreconf' is the better `autoconf' because it
> > automatically calls all necessary `autotools'.  But `autoreconf' also
> > creates the subdirectory `autom4te.cache/'.  I learned that this
> > subdirectory is used by the tool `autom4te', which is used internally
> > by many `autotols'.
> >
> > So I think I should add this to the groff CVS.
>
> Certainly not!

Agreed.  autom4te.cache should *never*, under any circumstances, be 
committed into a CVS (nor indeed, any other type of SCM) repository; 
isn't it already enumerated in .cvsignore, to make this clear?

> > Any comments?
>
> This directory and its contents is *always* intermediate!  It just
> speeds up the execution of the autoconf tools.  Actually, the
> `configure' script itself shouldn't be stored in the repository but
> generated during a `make tarball' call...

Some projects do commit configure, others don't.  IMO, it is better if 
it is *not* committed, but IIRC it has been there, in groff's CVS, for 
as long as I've been associated with the project.  I would be in favour 
of removing it now...

> Please remove it again.

I second that.  What a pity that it ever got committed, to pollute the 
repository for evermore, albeit with only a fleeting appearance.

--
Regards,
Keith.