[Zlib-devel] zlib 1.2.3.6 available for testing

[Vincent Torri]

On Wed, 20 Jan 2010, Enrico Weigelt wrote:

> Vincent Torri wrote:
>
>> keeping support for OS that are not used anymore is completely useless.
>
> How do you know which OS'es are still used out there ?

from friends, in their personal uses and in their work (lots are involved 
in computer jobs). Do you really think that supporting ms dos OS is useful 
?

>> Autotools are a framework used mostly to create Makefiles (they may have
>> other uses than creating Makefile's though).
>
> Yeah, it's a fine tool to make your code ugly and broken.

because you don't know how to use it correctly.

> I'm just got too lazy for counting the autoconf hassle I had in
> recent years, especially when it comes to things like crosscompiling.

i'm cross compiling easily with them since years

>> In addition, if you have a specific compiler and a shell, just do :
>>
>> CC=my_compiler ./configure
>
> Guess what, that's already possible w/ hand-written configure
> script for years.

if the configure script supports that... I've seen lots of configure 
scripts that are badly written, lots that are quite well written. Each 
time, it is a pain to support multiple OS with a hand written configure. 
You spend more time to write a good configure script than using the 
autotools (if you know the autotools, of course).

>> You just have to correctly write the configure.ac file.
>
> Yeah, that's the real challenge.

I agree. autotools are a real pain for developpers, but very handy for 
users.

I supports the autotools stuff of a dozen of libraries / programs, with 
support of linux, bsd, mac, solaris and windows. Some people are satisfied 
with them. Some are not. You won't have a build system that will satisfy 
everyone because some people dislike one part of a build system.

> You won't believe what horrible
> configure.in's I've seen within the last decade. Crap like
> AC_TRY_RUN's is just the nicest of all.

Of course. You can also look at very good configure.ac files.

> For such a small and mature package like zlib I don't really
> see the need for such a major change.

haha, funny that you take one of my arguments when I talk about svn vs git 
:p

yes, it is small. And it's not necesary to use the autotools. The current 
system is working. But a change in the files (change of names, adding or 
removing files, options passed to the proprocessor, compiler, linker, 
etc...) mean a change in more than 10 Makefiles, that is, a high 
probability to make mistakes when updating them.

Vincent Torri