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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 intel to process and fill out templates, customarily ending in .in. After successful completion, it is common for configure to print a report to the developer invoking them.
Because of the platform independence and broad developer experience with the configure script interface, many popular pieces of Free Software and Proprietary Software use this system during their system detection and Makefile generation phase. After configure scripts have been created, building software that makes use of them is as simple as
./configure && make && make install
note: configure relies on the .pc files being present and as such requires that you apt-get the -dev or -devel packages for libraries that are split
Free Software that uses configure
Proprietary Software that uses configure
(these are difficult to cite due to the nature of Proprietary Software)
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