Re: [m4] The source code has been broken for years

[Bruno Haible]

Michael Witten wrote:
> It appears that for years, m4's source code has been broken;
> 
>   * The last commit to the git repo was this:
> 
>       commit d69fa5284851b2b7aac25ffac638b6b379994db5
>       AuthorDate: Sat Dec 31 14:56:15 2016 -0600
>       CommitDate: Mon Jan 9 13:55:30 2017 -0600

You must be looking on the 'master' branch. Unlike most other git repos,
for GNU m4, the current development takes place on the 'branch-1.4' branch,
not on the 'master' branch:
https://git.savannah.gnu.org/gitweb/?p=m4.git;a=shortlog;h=refs/heads/branch-1.4

>   * Distros seem to use the last-released tarball:
> 
>       https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/m4/m4-1.4.18.tar.gz
>       https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/m4/m4-1.4.18.tar.bz2
>       https://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/m4/m4-1.4.18.tar.xz
> 
>   * However, the build breaks, and requires this following
>     patch, which is passed around the Internet like a
>     sacred talisman; here is a link to Arch Linux's copy:
> 
>       
> https://github.com/archlinux/svntogit-packages/blob/packages/m4/trunk/m4-1.4.18-glibc-change-work-around.patch
> 
> So, you know, does anyone with knowledge want to update this core component?

Yes, this is a known issue. For this reason, we are offering snapshot
tarballs (built from aforementioned branch, together with gnulib 'master').

The newest created (snapshot) tarball is available through the Gitlab UI
https://gitlab.com/gnu-m4/ci-distcheck
 > CI/CD > Jobs > Finished (check-optimized)
 > Job artifacts > Browse > m4-snapshot.tar
or directly through the following command sequence:
  wget -O m4-snapshot.tar 
'https://gitlab.com/gnu-m4/ci-distcheck/-/jobs/artifacts/master/raw/m4-snapshot.tar?job=check-optimized'
  tar xf m4-snapshot.tar

Bruno