Configure script: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:55, 24 July 2008

Revision as of 12:53, 6 August 2008

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[[Image:Autoconf.svg|thumb|300px|Flow diagram including configure, [[autoconf]] and [[automake]], three tools in the GNU build system]]

'''Configure scripts''' are an automated method of modifying [[source code]] before compilation in order to producedproduce code tailored to the the system on which a binary [[executable]] is to be compiled and run. Configure scripts are typically run immediately before compilation on the machine on which the software is to be used.

Configure scripts are generated by the [[Autotools]] suite of build management tools. These scripts query the system on which they run for environment settings, platform architecture, and the existence and ___location of required build and runtime dependencies. They then use the gathered [[Intelligence (information gathering)|information]] to process and fill out templates, customarily ending in <code>.in</code>. After successful completion, it is common for configure scripts to print a report to the developer invoking them.