Re: Need Help[

[Eric Blake]

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According to Jonathan Wong on 3/31/2006 11:23 AM:
> I am attempting to install GNU m4 because I need it for Autoconf which I
> need for Flex which I need for Art and Bison for which I need it for
> cflowd (utterly ridiculous), Anyways when I try to do a ./configure it
> reports that it cant find itself. When I do a sh ./configure it goes
> through the files, but then when I try to do a make, it says can not
> find autoconf!!! That?s the whole reason why I am installing this.

The autoconf manual includes this FAQ:

"If Autoconf requires gnu M4 and gnu M4 has an Autoconf configure script,
how do I bootstrap? It seems like a chicken and egg problem!

This is a misunderstanding. Although gnu M4 does come with a configure
script produced by Autoconf, Autoconf is not required in order to run the
script and install gnu M4. Autoconf is only required if you want to change
the M4 configure script, which few people have to do (mainly its maintainer)."

In order to bootstrap a brand new system, you should either look for
pre-compiled binaries, or use actual numbered package releases of GNU m4
and Autoconf (the latest are m4 1.4.4 and autoconf 2.59), rather than
trying to build from CVS.  Build and install m4 first, it has no
dependency on autoconf.  Then build and install autoconf, which depends on
an installed m4.  At that point, with stable versions of both programs
installed, if you desire, you may then proceed to upgrade to CVS versions
of each program, since the CVS versions have bootstrapping requirements on
installed stable versions.

> The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to
> which it is addressed

Sorry, but this is a publicly-archived mailing list.  Legal dribble like
this is unenforceable here, so it is good netiquette that you use an email
account that will not append such garbage to the end of your email when
posting to a public list (there are a number of free web-based email
services).

- --
Life is short - so eat dessert first!

Eric Blake             address@hidden
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