Changes to m4/NEWS,v

[Eric Blake]

CVSROOT:        /sources/m4
Module name:    m4
Changes by:     Eric Blake <ericb>      06/11/14 05:58:01

Index: NEWS
===================================================================
RCS file: /sources/m4/m4/NEWS,v
retrieving revision 1.31
retrieving revision 1.32
diff -u -b -r1.31 -r1.32
--- NEWS        27 Oct 2006 17:03:51 -0000      1.31
+++ NEWS        14 Nov 2006 05:58:01 -0000      1.32
@@ -2,500 +2,540 @@
 Copyright (C) 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006 Free Software
 Foundation, Inc.
 
-Version beta 1.9b - ???, by ??? (CVS version 1.9a)
+* Version beta 1.9b - ???, by ??? (CVS version 1.9a)
 
 NOTE - there are still a number of FIXMEs to resolve before this can be
 promoted to 2.0.
 
-* The build environment has been updated to modern GNU practices,
+** Building M4
+
+*** The build environment has been updated to modern GNU practices,
   depending on newer features of Autoconf, Automake, Libtool, Gettext,
   and Gnulib to be more portable to a wide variety of platforms.
 
-* If the POSIXLY_CORRECT environment variable is set, m4 now disables
-  GNU extensions that are incompatible with POSIX.
-  - FIXME: POSIXLY_CORRECT should imply -G, rather than being a separate
-  conditional in the code.  And we should have -g to override the
-  environment.  Also, the list of features incompatible with POSIX is
-  still larger than what either flag currently affects.
+** New command line behavior
+
+*** If the POSIXLY_CORRECT environment variable is set, it implies the
+    `-G' and `-Q' options, effectively giving a more fully POSIX-compliant
+    implementation with only compatible GNU extensions.
+
+*** New `-b'/`--batch' command-line option to force non-interactive mode.
+    Also, in addition to `-e'/`--interactive' requesting interactive mode,
+    m4 now follows the lead of sh, and automatically enters interactive
+    mode when there are no files specified, and when both standard input
+    and standard error are terminals.
+
+*** New `-B'/`--prepend-include' command-line option allows prepending to
+    the include path, rather than always searching `.' first.
+
+*** The `-d'/`--debug' command-line option now understands `-' and `+'
+     modifiers, the way `debugmode' has always done.  The option
+    `--debugmode' is added as an alias for `-d'.
+
+*** New `--debuglen' command-line option matches the spelling of a new
+    macro, and the old spelling `--arglength' now issues a warning that it
+    might be withdrawn in the future.
+
+*** New `-g'/`--gnu' command-line option overrides `-G'/`--traditional',
+    allowing the GNU module to be selected even when POSIXLY_CORRECT.
+
+*** The `-H'/`--hashsize' options, which were made no-ops in a previous
+    beta, now issue a deprecation warning.
+
+*** The `-L'/`--nesting-limit' command-line option now performs argument
+    validation and accepts an optional multiplier suffix.
+
+*** The `-o'/`--error-output' options, which were replaced by
+    `--debugfile' in M4 1.4.7, now issue a deprecation warning.  This
+    warning interferes with all versions of Autoconf prior to 2.61, so plan
+    on installing an updated Autoconf when installing M4 2.0.
+
+*** New `-p'/`--pushdef' and `--popdef' command-line options allow more
+    control over macro definitions from the command line between input
+    files.
+
+*** New `-r'/`--regexp-syntax' command-line option changes the default
+    regular expression syntax used by M4.  Without this option, M4
+    continues to use EMACS style expressions.  A new section in the info
+    docs explains the differences between them, and what builtins are
+    affected.
+
+*** New `--safer' command-line option cripples the potentially unsafe
+    builtins `debugfile', `esyscmd', `maketemp', `mkdtemp', `mkstemp', and
+    `syscmd'.
+
+*** New `--syncoutput' command-line option matches the builtin added in a
+    previous beta, and provides more control over sync line generation
+    from the command line between input files.  The previous options
+    `-s'/`--synclines' remain as aliases for `--syncoutput=1'.
+
+*** New `--traceoff' command-line option, and new spelling `--traceon' for
+    `--trace', allow more control over macro tracing from the command line
+    between input files.
+
+*** New `--unload-module' command-line option allows more control over
+    dynamic modules from the command line.  Also, `-m'/`--load-module' now
+    acts between input files.
+
+*** New `--warnings' command-line option re-enables warnings, overriding
+    `-Q'/`--quiet'/`--silent', allowing warnings even when POSIXLY_CORRECT.
 
-* POSIXLY_CORRECT and `m4 --traditional' now makes the `define' builtin
+** POSIX conformance
+
+*** POSIXLY_CORRECT and `m4 --traditional' now makes the `define' builtin
   replace all `pushdef'ed values of a macro.
   - FIXME: The Austin group clarified that this was never a POSIX
   requirement; consider reverting this change.
 
-* The `defn' builtin now allows any number of arguments, as POSIX requires.
+*** The `defn' builtin now allows any number of arguments, as POSIX requires.
   - FIXME: This still doesn't work with concatenating builtins with text.
 
-* The '$' syntax class is now enabled.  See the manual for examples.
   - FIXME: POSIX recommends using ${10} instead of $10 for the tenth
   positional argument.  We should deprecate $10.
 
-* New builtin `renamesyms' allows programmatic renaming of all symbols
+ - FIXME: `m4wrap' semantics need an update to FIFO.
+
+** Removed builtins
+
+*** The experimental `epatsubst' and `eregexp' builtins have been removed
+    in favor of a new `changeresyntax' builtin.
+
+** New builtins
+
+*** New `changeresyntax' builtin allows programmtic setting of the default
+    regular expression flavor, to match `-r'/`--regexp-syntax' command-line
+    option.
+
+*** A new builtin `debuglen' is introduced which allows runtime setting
+    of debug output length, previously controlled only by the `-l' command
+    line argument.  Additionally, whether using the new macro or the
+    command line argument, the length limitation now affects dumpdef output
+    as well as trace output, undergoes argument validation, and accepts an
+    optional multiplier suffix.
+  - FIXME the multiplier suffix isn't reliable yet
+
+*** New builtin `mkdtemp' parallels `mkstemp', but allows the creation of
+    temporary directories instead of files.
+
+*** New `renamesyms' builtin allows programmatic renaming of all symbols
   according to a regular expression.
   - FIXME: This feature can cause core dumps when renaming multiple
   symbols to the same name.
 
-* The `builtin' macro now has a special form, where if the first argument
-  is exactly the special token representing defn(`builtin'), the expansion
-  is the special token representing the builtin named in the second
-  argument.  This allows regenerating a macro with a more efficient
-  mapping directly to a builtin function, rather than through textual
-  indirection through further expansions of `builtin'.
-
-* New `-r'/`--regexp-syntax' command-line option changes the default
-  regular expression syntax used by M4.  Without this option, M4 continues
-  to use EMACS style expressions.  A new section in the info docs
-  explains the differences between them, and what builtins are affected.
+*** The `modules' and `symbols' builtins, introduced in previous betas,
+    have been renamed `m4modules' and `m4symbols', in order to minimize
+    problems when upgrading from 1.4.x and processing English text.  To
+    prevent future problems, any future macro added as a GNU extension will
+    either be blind (ie. be unrecognized without arguments), or begin with
+    the prefix `m4' or `__'.
 
-* The experimental `epatsubst' and `eregexp' have been removed in favor
-  of a new `changeresyntax' builtin.
+** Changed behavior of builtins
 
-* `patsubst' and `regexp' have a new optional 4th argument to use a
-  different regular expression syntax for the duration of that invocation.
+*** The '$' syntax class to the `changeresyntax' builtin is now enabled.
+    See the manual for examples.
 
-* New `-B'/`--prepend-include' command-line option allows prepending to
-  the include path, rather than always searching `.' first.
+*** The `builtin' builtin now has a special form, where if the first
+    argument is exactly the special token representing defn(`builtin'), the
+    expansion is the special token representing the builtin named in the
+    second argument.  This allows regenerating a macro with a more
+    efficient mapping directly to a builtin function, rather than through
+    textual indirection through further expansions of `builtin'.
 
-* New `--safer' command-line option cripples the potentially unsafe
-  macros `debugfile', `esyscmd', `maketemp', `mkdtemp', `mkstemp', and
-  `syscmd'.
+*** New `m' flag to `-d'/`--debug' option or `debugmode' macro traces
+    actions related to module loading and unloading, and affects `dumpdef'
+    and trace output to show where builtins come from.  New `s' flag shows
+    the entire stack of `pushdef' definitions during `dumpdef'.  The `c'
+    flag has been updated to output two lines instead of three (since the
+    last two had always been paired), and to add information to the first
+    line to show the definition of the macro being expanded.  The 'e' flag
+    has been updated to output non-text expansions.
 
-* The `maketemp' builtin now always warns that it is obsolete, even in GNU
+*** The `dumpdef' macro now always outputs to standard error, rather than
+    the debug file specified by the `--debugfile' option or `debugfile'
+    macro.
+
+*** The `maketemp' builtin now always warns that it is obsolete, even in GNU
   mode where it uses the same secure algorithm as `mkstemp', because of
   the recommendation of POSIX to obsolete `maketemp' as inherently
   insecure when obeying POSIX.
 
-* New builtin `mkdtemp' parallels `mkstemp', but allows the creation of
-  temporary directories instead of files.
+*** The `patsubst' and `regexp' builtins have a new optional 4th argument
+    to use a different regular expression syntax for the duration of that
+    invocation.
+
+*** The semantics of `traceon' and `traceoff' now match traditional
+    implementations: when called without arguments, they affect global
+    state rather than affecting only the macros defined at that moment.
+    The manual includes an example of how to recover 1.4.x semantics.
 
-* New `-b'/`--batch' command line option to force non-interactive mode.
-  Also, in addition to `-e'/`--interactive' requesting interactive mode, m4
-  now follows the lead of sh, and automatically enters interactive mode
-  when there are no files specified, and when both standard input and
-  standard error are terminals.
+** Other changes
 
-* New `m' flag to `-d'/`--debug' option or `debugmode' macro traces
-  actions related to module loading and unloading, and affects `dumpdef'
-  and trace output to show where builtins come from.  New `s' flag shows
-  the entire stack of `pushdef' definitions during `dumpdef'.  The `c' flag
-  has been updated to output two lines instead of three (since the last two
-  had always been paired), and to add information to the first line to show
-  the definition of the macro being expanded.  The 'e' flag has been
-  updated to output non-text expansions.  Also, the `--debug' option now
-  understands `-' and `+' modifiers, the way `debugmode' has always done.
-  The option `--debugmode' is added as an alias for `-d'.
-
-* The semantics of `traceon' and `traceoff' now match traditional
-  implementations: when called without arguments, they affect global state
-  rather than affecting only the macros defined at that moment.  The
-  manual includes an example of how to recover 1.4.x semantics.
-
-* The syntax of frozen files format V2 has been improved to save
+*** The syntax of frozen files format V2 has been improved to save
   additional state.
   - FIXME: format 2 still needs to be tweaked to allow complete ASCII
   representation and to catch any more missing state; once 2.0 is released,
   any further changes would introduce format 3.
 
-* The `-o'/`--error-output' options, which were replaced by
-  `--debugfile' in M4 1.4.7, now issue a deprecation warning.  This warning
-  interferes with all versions of Autoconf prior to 2.61, so plan on
-  installing an updated Autoconf when installing M4 2.0.
-
-* The `-H'/`--hashsize' options, which were made no-ops in a previous
-  beta, now issue a deprecation warning.
-
-* The `dumpdef' macro now always outputs to standard error, rather than
-  the debug file specified by the `--debugfile' option or `debugfile'
-  macro.
-
-* The builtins `modules' and `symbols', introduced in previous betas,
-  have been renamed `m4modules' and `m4symbols', in order to minimize
-  problems when upgrading from 1.4.x and processing English text.  To
-  prevent future problems, any future macro added as a GNU extension will
-  either be blind (ie. be unrecognized without arguments), or begin with
-  the prefix `m4' or `__'.
-
-* A new builtin `debuglen' is introduced which allows runtime setting
-  of debug output length, previously controlled only by the `-l' command
-  line argument.  A new command line argument `--debuglen' matches the
-  spelling of the new macro, and the old spelling `--arglength' now issues
-  a warning that it might be withdrawn in the future.  Additionally,
-  whether using the new macro or the command line argument, the length
-  limitation now affects dumpdef output as well as trace output, undergoes
-  argument validation, and accepts an optional multiplier suffix.
-
-* The `-L'/`--nesting-limit' command line option can now be set to 0
-  to remove the default limit.  However, it is still possible that heavily
-  nested input can cause abrupt program termination due to stack
-  overflow.  Also, the option now performs argument validation and accepts
-  an optional multiplier suffix.
-
-* The `--help' and `--version' command line options now consistently
-  override all earlier options.  For example, `m4 -otrace --help' now no
-  longer accidentally creates an empty file `trace'.
-
-* The builtin `divert' now uses memory proportional to the number of
-  diversions created, rather than to the maximum diversion number
-  encountered, allowing larger diversion numbers without exhausting system
-  memory.
-
-* FIXME: `m4wrap' semantics need an update to FIFO.
-
-* FIXME: include the (long) list of changes in 1.4.x that were not already
+FIXME: include the (long) list of changes in 1.4.x that were not already
   in earlier betas.
+* Version 1.4.8
+* Version 1.4.7
+* Version 1.4.6
+* Version 1.4.5
 
-Version beta 1.4q - August 2001, by Gary V. Vaughan
+* Version beta 1.4q - August 2001, by Gary V. Vaughan
 
-* Support for the experimental `changeword' has been dropped.
+** Support for the experimental `changeword' has been dropped.
 
-* `m4 --hashsize' and `-H' are still accepted, but have no effect.  M4
-  will grow its internal symbol table if the symbol density is having
-  an effect on performance.
+** `m4 --hashsize' and `-H' are still accepted, but have no effect.  M4
+   will grow its internal symbol table if the symbol density is having an
+   effect on performance.
 
-* `configure --without-modules' will build an m4 binary with no preloaded
+** `configure --without-modules' will build an m4 binary with no preloaded
   modules.  At startup it will search for and load modules `m4' and either
   `gnu' or `traditional'.  This mode of operation can be used for
   development and debugging of the base modules without the need to
   recompile all of m4 with each modification.
 
-* `configure --with-modules="gnu m4 traditional load"', for example,
-  will build an m4 binary with the named modules preloaded, ready to
-  be activated (even on static lib only machines) with the `-m' option
-  or using the `load' builtin.
-
-* M4 has no builtins or macros in core, they are all loaded from modules
-  at startup.  This means that modules are no longer optional, though
-  the standard build will statically link the modules `m4', `gnu' and
+** `configure --with-modules="gnu m4 traditional load"', for example,
+   will build an m4 binary with the named modules preloaded, ready to be
+   activated (even on static lib only machines) with the `-m' option or
+   using the `load' builtin.
+
+** M4 has no builtins or macros in core, they are all loaded from modules
+   at startup.  This means that modules are no longer optional, though the
+   standard build will statically link the modules `m4', `gnu' and
   `traditional', so even on machines with no ltdl support, all of the
   functionality from previous releases is available.
 
-* New builtin `load' to dynamically load modules which can define new
+** New builtin `load' to dynamically load modules which can define new
   builtins and user macros.
 
-* New builtin `unload' to remove loaded modules (and the builtins and user
+** New builtin `unload' to remove loaded modules (and the builtins and user
   macros they define) from the running m4 interpreter.
 
-* New builtins `eregexp' and `epatsubst' to use Extended Regular Expressions
-  syntax in lieu of Basic Regular Expressions as used by `regexp' and
-  `patsubst'.
+** New builtins `eregexp' and `epatsubst' to use Extended Regular
+   Expressions syntax in lieu of Basic Regular Expressions as used by
+   `regexp' and `patsubst'.
 
-* The names of all currently loaded modules are returned by the new
+** The names of all currently loaded modules are returned by the new
   builtin, ``modules''.
 
-* Loadable modules can define new builtin functions or text expansion
+** Loadable modules can define new builtin functions or text expansion
   macros.
 
-* The module code has been rewritten to use libltdl, the libtool dynamic
+** The module code has been rewritten to use libltdl, the libtool dynamic
   loader, which means GNU m4 can now load (and unload) modules just about
   anywhere which it can be built.  This includes obscure hosts such as
   cygwin and BeOS, and also on hosts which do not have shared libraries,
   through preloading (see libtool manual) and GNU dld.
 
-* Modules can now be built without the m4 source being available using the
-  installed m4module.h header file (and some other headers that it includes
-  for you), and the installed libm4.la libtool library.  All symbols
-  exported from libm4.la have a prefix of `m4_' or `M4_'.  See the modules
-  directory for examples of usage.
+** Modules can now be built without the m4 source being available using the
+   installed m4module.h header file (and some other headers that it
+   includes for you), and the installed libm4.la libtool library.  All
+   symbols exported from libm4.la have a prefix of `m4_' or `M4_'.  See the
+   modules directory for examples of usage.
 
-* A new V2 format for frozen files that saves module and syntax information.
+** A new V2 format for frozen files that saves module and syntax information.
 
-Version beta 1.4o - January 2000, by Rene' Seindal
+* Version beta 1.4o - January 2000, by Rene' Seindal
 
-* Modules can be loaded from the command line with --load-module
+** Modules can be loaded from the command line with --load-module
 
-* Modules now use libtool's wrapper libltdl.
+** Modules now use libtool's wrapper libltdl.
 
-* New builtin `symbols' allows dynamic queries of all currently defined
+** New builtin `symbols' allows dynamic queries of all currently defined
   macros.
 
-* Bug fixes.
+** Various Bug fixes.
 
-Version beta 1.4n - November 1998, by Rene' Seindal
+* Version beta 1.4n - November 1998, by Rene' Seindal
 
-* The module code has been reorganised yet again, and now compiles
+** The module code has been reorganised yet again, and now compiles
   correctly on GNU/Linux, HPUX 9 and 10, SunOS 5 and Solaris 5.
 
-* When configured --with-gmp a new builtin `mpeval' is now defined.  The
+** When configured --with-gmp a new builtin `mpeval' is now defined.  The
   builtin `eval' retains its normal behaviour.
 
-* m4 --version also shows which options were used for compilation, such as:
+** m4 --version also shows which options were used for compilation, such as:
   "GNU m4 1.4n (options: modules gmp changeword)"
 
-* New option --import-environment defines all environment variables as
+** New option --import-environment defines all environment variables as
   macros.  This is done before -D and -U are handled, so the macros can be
   changed through these options.
 
-* Error messages now always print program name before input file name as
-  specified by GNU coding standards.  Reported by Akim Demaille
-  <address@hidden>.
+** Error messages now always print program name before input file name as
+   specified by GNU coding standards.  Reported by Akim Demaille.
 
-* Bug fixed: "undivert(0)" could cause m4 to read standard output.  A call
+** Bug fixed: "undivert(0)" could cause m4 to read standard output.  A call
   of "undivert(0)" is now silently ignored.
 
-* Bug fixed: when compiling --with-included-gettext, <libintl.h> wasn't
-  found in intl/ directory.  Reported by Andrew Bettison
-  <address@hidden>.
+** Bug fixed: when compiling --with-included-gettext, <libintl.h> wasn't
+   found in intl/ directory.  Reported by Andrew Bettison.
 
-Version beta 1.4m - November 1998, by Rene' Seindal
+* Version beta 1.4m - November 1998, by Rene' Seindal
 
-* Using libtool for compiling modules and for linking main app.
+** Using libtool for compiling modules and for linking main app.
 
-* Reorganised the dynamic module code to encapsulate system dependencies
+** Reorganised the dynamic module code to encapsulate system dependencies
   better.  The code for HPUX shl_load() still needs testing and debugging.
   A dld interface is also missing.  Any volunteers?
 
-* The files from the GNU m4 web-site is now in examples/WWW as a more
+** The files from the GNU m4 web-site is now in examples/WWW as a more
   complete example of what GNU m4 can do.
 
-Version beta 1.4l - November 1998, by Rene' Seindal
+* Version beta 1.4l - November 1998, by Rene' Seindal
 
-* GNU m4 now has an escape syntax category.  If a character is marked as
+** GNU m4 now has an escape syntax category.  If a character is marked as
   an escape, words are only recognised as macros if preceded by an escape
   character.  It is a bit like -P, but dynamic: it can be turned on and
   off.  The GNU m4 web-site on http://www.seindal.dk/rene/gnu/ is
   maintained with this feature - the m4 source is available on the site.
 
-* The module interface is improved, thanks to "Brian J. Fox"
-  <address@hidden>, who have contributed some code from Meta-HTML.  The
-  modules now build automatically and installs properly, by default in
+** The module interface is improved, thanks to "Brian J. Fox",
+   who has contributed some code from Meta-HTML.  The modules now build
+   automatically and installs properly, by default in
   /usr/local/libexec/m4.  There is a preliminary, untested support for
   shl_load().
 
-* There is now a __m4_version__ macro that expands to the current version
+** There is now a __m4_version__ macro that expands to the current version
   number.
 
-Version beta 1.4k - November 1998, by Erick Branderhorst and Rene' Seindal
+* Version beta 1.4k - November 1998, by Erick Branderhorst and Rene' Seindal
 
-* GNU m4 now uses gettext to support internationalization.
+** GNU m4 now uses gettext to support internationalization.
 
-* GNU m4 now uses automake to control Makefile.in generation.  This
+** GNU m4 now uses automake to control Makefile.in generation.  This
   should make it more consistent with the GNU standards.
 
-* GNU m4 will use the gmp library for multiple precision integral and
+** GNU m4 will use the gmp library for multiple precision integral and
   rational arithmetic in `eval' if configured with `--with-gmp'.  If
   configured without `--with-gmp' or if gmp is not available, and the type
   `long long int' is, GNU m4 will use that for `eval' arithmetic.
 
-* GNU m4 now parses the input according to a syntax table, that can be
+** GNU m4 now parses the input according to a syntax table, that can be
   modified through the new builtin `changesyntax'.  It is a generalisation
   of the existing builtins `changecom' and `changequote'.  The changes are
   completely backwards compatible (except for the existence of
   `changesyntax').
 
-* Sync lines can be turned on and off with the `syncoutput' builtin.  The
+** Sync lines can be turned on and off with the `syncoutput' builtin.  The
   builtin `syncoutput' is a GNU extension.
 
-* New experimental feature: dynamically loadable modules.  New builtin
+** New experimental feature: dynamically loadable modules.  New builtin
   `loadmodules' loads shared libraries, that can define new builtin
   macros, ie, new macros can be written in C.  Depends on the dlopen()
   interface, and is currently only tested on Linux.  Enabled at configure
   time with `--with-modules'.  Documentation is in src/module.c and
   module/README.
 
-* Implement a GNU message catalog for French (Franc,ois Pinard).
+** Implement a GNU message catalog for French (Franc,ois Pinard).
 
-* Filenames found through path searches are now correctly reflected in
+** Filenames found through path searches are now correctly reflected in
   error and debug messages and through the `__file__' macro.
 
-Bugs fixed
-
-* All 8-bit characters can now be used for quotes.
+** Bugs fixed:
 
+*** All 8-bit characters can now be used for quotes.
 
-Version 1.4 - October 1994, by Franc,ois Pinard
-
-(No user visible changes)
-
+FIXME: include the (long) list of changes in 1.4.x that were not already
+  in earlier betas.
+* Version 1.4.4
+* Version 1.4.3
+* Version 1.4.2
+* Version 1.4.1
 
-Version 1.3 - September 1994, by Franc,ois Pinard
+* Version 1.4 - October 1994, by Franc,ois Pinard
 
-* Diversions are created as needed.  Option `-N' is still accepted, but
-otherwise ignored.  Users should use only negative diversion numbers,
-instead of high positive numbers, for diverting to nowhere.
+** (No user visible changes)
 
-* Diversions should also work faster.  No temporary files will be needed
-at all if all diversions taken altogether do not use more than 512K.
+* Version 1.3 - September 1994, by Franc,ois Pinard
 
-* Frozen state files may be produced with the `--freeze-state' (-F)
-option and later brought back through the `--reload-state' (-R) option.
+** Diversions are created as needed.  Option `-N' is still accepted, but
+   otherwise ignored.  Users should use only negative diversion numbers,
+   instead of high positive numbers, for diverting to nowhere.
 
+** Diversions should also work faster.  No temporary files will be needed
+   at all if all diversions taken altogether do not use more than 512K.
 
-Version 1.2 - July 1994, by Franc,ois Pinard
+** Frozen state files may be produced with the `--freeze-state' (-F)
+   option and later brought back through the `--reload-state' (-R) option.
 
-* In patsubst(STRING, REGEXP, REPLACEMENT), \& in REPLACEMENT has been
-changed to represent this part of STRING matched by the whole REGEXP,
-instead of the whole STRING as before.  \0 does the same, but emits a
-diagnostic saying it will disappear in some subsequent release.
+* Version 1.2 - July 1994, by Franc,ois Pinard
 
-* eval(EXPR) emits a diagnostic if EXPR has suffixed crumb.  The same for
-other numeric conversions in incr(), decr(), divert(), etc.
+** In patsubst(STRING, REGEXP, REPLACEMENT), \& in REPLACEMENT has been
+   changed to represent this part of STRING matched by the whole REGEXP,
+   instead of the whole STRING as before.  \0 does the same, but emits a
+   diagnostic saying it will disappear in some subsequent release.
 
-* `--fatal-warnings' (-E) stops execution at first warning.
+** eval(EXPR) emits a diagnostic if EXPR has suffixed crumb.  The same for
+   other numeric conversions in incr(), decr(), divert(), etc.
 
-* `--nesting-limit=LEVEL' (-L LEVEL) sets a limit to macro nesting.
-It is initially fixed at 250.
+** `--fatal-warnings' (-E) stops execution at first warning.
 
-* `--word-regexp=REGEXP' (-W REGEXP) modifies macro name syntax, like
-does the new `changeword(REGEXP)' macro.  This feature is experimental,
-tell me your opinions about it.  You do need --enable-changeword at
-configure time to get these things.  Do *not* depend on them yet.
+** `--nesting-limit=LEVEL' (-L LEVEL) sets a limit to macro nesting.
+   It is initially fixed at 250.
 
-* Trace output format is scannable by GNU Emacs' next-error function.
+** `--word-regexp=REGEXP' (-W REGEXP) modifies macro name syntax, like
+   does the new `changeword(REGEXP)' macro.  This feature is experimental,
+   tell me your opinions about it.  You do need --enable-changeword at
+   configure time to get these things.  Do *not* depend on them yet.
 
-* Stack overflow is detected and diagnosed on some capable systems.
+** Trace output format is scannable by GNU Emacs' next-error function.
 
-* Various bugs have been corrected, m4 should be more portable.  See the
-ChangeLog for details.
+** Stack overflow is detected and diagnosed on some capable systems.
 
+** Various bugs have been corrected, m4 should be more portable.  See the
+   ChangeLog for details.
 
-Version 1.1 - November 1993, by Franc,ois Pinard
+* Version 1.1 - November 1993, by Franc,ois Pinard
 
-Changes which might affect existing GNU m4 scripts:
+** Changes which might affect existing GNU m4 scripts:
 
-* Option `-V' has been removed, use `--version' instead.  `--version'
-writes on standard output instead of standard error, and inhibits any
-script execution.
+*** Option `-V' has been removed, use `--version' instead.  `--version'
+    writes on standard output instead of standard error, and inhibits any
+    script execution.
 
-* `--no-gnu-extensions' has been renamed `--traditional'.
+*** `--no-gnu-extensions' has been renamed `--traditional'.
 
-* In `eval', `^' used to indicate exponentiation, use `**' instead.
+*** In `eval', `^' used to indicate exponentiation, use `**' instead.
 
-* The automatic undiversion which takes place at end of all input is
-forced into the main output stream.
+*** The automatic undiversion which takes place at end of all input is
+    forced into the main output stream.
 
-Changes which are unlikely to affect existing scripts:
+** Changes which are unlikely to affect existing scripts:
 
-* `--help' prints an usage summary on standard output.  Script execution
-is then inhibited.
+*** `--help' prints an usage summary on standard output.  Script execution
+    is then inhibited.
 
-* `--prefix-builtins' (-P) prefixes all builtin macros by `m4_'.
+*** `--prefix-builtins' (-P) prefixes all builtin macros by `m4_'.
 
-* Most builtin macros for which arguments are mandatory, called without
-any arguments, are no more recognized as builtin macros: they are
-consequently copied verbatim to the output stream.
+*** Most builtin macros for which arguments are mandatory, called without
+    any arguments, are no more recognized as builtin macros: they are
+    consequently copied verbatim to the output stream.
 
-* `define' and `pushdef' are usable with only one argument, they give
-this argument an empty definition.
+*** `define' and `pushdef' are usable with only one argument, they give
+    this argument an empty definition.
 
-* `eval' new operators for binary representation handling: `^' for
-exclusive-or, `~' for the bitwise negation, `<<' and `>>' for shifts.
+*** `eval' new operators for binary representation handling: `^' for
+    exclusive-or, `~' for the bitwise negation, `<<' and `>>' for shifts.
 
-* `eval' recognizes the notation 0bDIGITS for binary numbers and the
-notation 0rRADIX:DIGITS for numbers in any radix from 1 to 36.
+*** `eval' recognizes the notation 0bDIGITS for binary numbers and the
+    notation 0rRADIX:DIGITS for numbers in any radix from 1 to 36.
 
-Version 1.0.3 - December 1992, by Franc,ois Pinard
+* Version 1.0.3 - December 1992, by Franc,ois Pinard
 
-Changes for the user:
+** Changes for the user:
 
-* `dnl' outputs a diagnostic if immediately followed by `('.  Usually,
-`dnl' is followed by newline or whitespace.
+*** `dnl' outputs a diagnostic if immediately followed by `('.  Usually,
+    `dnl' is followed by newline or whitespace.
 
-* `ifelse' accepts without complaining the common idiom of having only
-one argument.  This is useful for introducing long comments.
+*** `ifelse' accepts without complaining the common idiom of having only
+    one argument.  This is useful for introducing long comments.
 
-* `eval' always expresses values as signed, whatever the radix.
+*** `eval' always expresses values as signed, whatever the radix.
 
-* M4OPTS environment variable is no longer obeyed.
+*** M4OPTS environment variable is no longer obeyed.
 
-* `--no-warnings' option is renamed `--silent'.
+*** `--no-warnings' option is renamed `--silent'.
 
-* Debug lines use a new format more compatible with GNU standards.
+*** Debug lines use a new format more compatible with GNU standards.
 
-* Various bugs have been corrected.  See the ChangeLog for details.
+*** Various bugs have been corrected.  See the ChangeLog for details.
 
-Changes for the installer:
+** Changes for the installer:
 
-* GNU m4 now uses an Autoconf-generated configure script, and should be
-more easily portable in many ways.  (Cray is not supported yet).
+*** GNU m4 now uses an Autoconf-generated configure script, and should be
+    more easily portable in many ways.  (Cray is not supported yet).
 
-* `make check' has been made more portable, expect no errors.
+*** `make check' has been made more portable, expect no errors.
 
-Changes for the programmer:
+** Changes for the programmer:
 
-* Sources have been fully reindented to comply with GNU standards, and
-cleaned up in many ways.
+*** Sources have been fully reindented to comply with GNU standards, and
+    cleaned up in many ways.
 
-* Sources have been protoized.  Non-ANSI compilers are automatically
-detected, then sources are unprotoized on the fly before compilation.
+*** Sources have been protoized.  Non-ANSI compilers are automatically
+    detected, then sources are unprotoized on the fly before compilation.
 
-* GNU m4 uses newer versions of obstack, regex, getopt, etc.
+*** GNU m4 uses newer versions of obstack, regex, getopt, etc.
 
-Version 1.0 - October 1991, by Rene' Seindal
+* Version 1.0 - October 1991, by Rene' Seindal
 
-* Uses GNU configure, taken from the gdb distribution.
+** Uses GNU configure, taken from the gdb distribution.
 
-* Uses GNU getopt(), with long option names.
+** Uses GNU getopt(), with long option names.
 
-* The -Q/+quiet option is added, which suppresses warnings about missing
-or superflous arguments to builtin macros.
+** The -Q/+quiet option is added, which suppresses warnings about missing
+   or superflous arguments to builtin macros.
 
-* Added default options via the M4OPTS environment variable.
+** Added default options via the M4OPTS environment variable.
 
-* Several minor bugs have been fixed.
+** Several minor bugs have been fixed.
 
-Version 0.99 - July 1991, by Rene' Seindal
+* Version 0.99 - July 1991, by Rene' Seindal
 
-* The builtins `incr' and `decr' are now implemented without use of
-`eval'.
+** The builtins `incr' and `decr' are now implemented without use of
+   `eval'.
 
-* The builtin `indir' is added, to allow for indirect macro calls
-(allows use of "illegal" macro names).
+** The builtin `indir' is added, to allow for indirect macro calls
+   (allows use of "illegal" macro names).
 
-* The debugging and tracing facilities has been enhanced considerably.
-See the manual for details.
+** The debugging and tracing facilities has been enhanced considerably.
+   See the manual for details.
 
-* The -tMACRO option is added, marks MACRO for tracing as soon as it
-is defined.
+** The -tMACRO option is added, marks MACRO for tracing as soon as it
+   is defined.
 
-* Builtins are traced after renaming iff they were before.
+** Builtins are traced after renaming iff they were before.
 
-* Named files can now be undiverted.
+** Named files can now be undiverted.
 
-* The -Nnum option can be used to increase the number of divertions
-available.
+** The -Nnum option can be used to increase the number of divertions
+   available.
 
-* Calling changecom without arguments now disables all comment handling.
+** Calling changecom without arguments now disables all comment handling.
 
-* A bug in `dnl' is fixed.
+** A bug in `dnl' is fixed.
 
-* A bug in the multi-character quoting code is fixed.
+** A bug in the multi-character quoting code is fixed.
 
-* Several typos in the manual has been corrected.  More probably persist.
+** Several typos in the manual has been corrected.  More probably persist.
 
-Version 0.75 - November 1990, by Rene' Seindal
+* Version 0.75 - November 1990, by Rene' Seindal
 
-* Implemented search path for include files (-I option and M4PATH
-environment variable).
+** Implemented search path for include files (-I option and M4PATH
+   environment variable).
 
-* Implemented builtin `format' for printf-like formatting.
+** Implemented builtin `format' for printf-like formatting.
 
-* Implemented builtin `regexp' for searching for regular expressions.
+** Implemented builtin `regexp' for searching for regular expressions.
 
-* Implemented builtin `patsubst' for substitution with regular
-expressions.
+** Implemented builtin `patsubst' for substitution with regular
+   expressions.
 
-* Implemented builtin `esyscmd', which expands to a shell commands output.
+** Implemented builtin `esyscmd', which expands to a shell commands output.
 
-* Implemented `__file__' and `__line__' for use in error messages.
+** Implemented `__file__' and `__line__' for use in error messages.
 
-* Implemented character ranges in `translit'.
+** Implemented character ranges in `translit'.
 
-* Implemented control over debugging output.
+** Implemented control over debugging output.
 
-* Implemented multi-character quotes.
+** Implemented multi-character quotes.
 
-* Implemented multi-character comment delimiters.
+** Implemented multi-character comment delimiters.
 
-* Changed predefined macro `gnu' to `__gnu__'.
+** Changed predefined macro `gnu' to `__gnu__'.
 
-* Changed predefined macro `unix' to `__unix__', when the -G option is
-not used.  With -G, `unix' is still defined.
+** Changed predefined macro `unix' to `__unix__', when the -G option is
+   not used.  With -G, `unix' is still defined.
 
-* Added program name to error messages.
+** Added program name to error messages.
 
-* Fixed two missing null bytes bugs.
+** Fixed two missing null bytes bugs.
 
-Version 0.50 - January 1990, by Rene' Seindal
+* Version 0.50 - January 1990, by Rene' Seindal
 
 * Initial beta release.