RFC: A Configure Wrapper

[Matt Rogers]

On Sunday 02 July 2006 08:04, Allen Winter wrote:
> On Saturday 01 July 2006 18:35, Matt Rogers wrote:
> > On Saturday 01 July 2006 21:39, Allen Winter wrote:
> > > Howdy,
> > >
> > > Attached is a perl script that emulates the old configure program. 
> > > Pretty straightforward so I don't think you need to be a perl expert to
> > > understand it.
> > >
> > > It only supports a minimum set of the old options.  More options can be
> > > easily added if there is a CMake equivalent.
> > >
> > > So far it supports these options:
> > >  --prefix
> > >  --enable-debug=<yes|no|full>
> > >  --enable-final
> > >  --disable-rpath
> > >  --with-qt-dir=DIR
> > >
> > > You'll also notice that it creates a build subdir and runs cmake from
> > > within that subdir.
> > >
> > > So, the idea is that users not willing to learn the new "cmake-way"
> > > will run: % ./configure <options>; cd builddir; make && make install
> > >
> > > And, unfortunately, this script will need to be kept in sync with
> > > what's happening in the cmake-stuff, and also each module will need
> > > their own copy.
> > >
> > > Comments?  More configure options to add?
> > > -Allen
> >
> > Do we really need this?
>
> Nope.
>
> > People should just learn the cmake way IMHO.
>
> I think so too.
>
> > With the use of the 'ccmake' program, it's almost easier than running
> > configure.
>
> Probably true.
>
> > This  is just another unneeded maintainence burden IMHO.
>
> Absolutely.
>
> > Surely developers aren't  that lazy that they can't take the 5 seconds to
> > read a quick start guide that  says:
>
> I would hope not.
>
> > Do we have such a guide already? It would also contain other information
> > on CMake, of course. If not, I'll volunteer to write it.
>
> We have a wiki.  I'd like to see the INSTALL file at the top of each module
> updated. Would you take on that job?
>
> We also need a nice doc at developer.kde.org.  The wiki page should
> probably be turned into a howto type page at d.k.o.
>

I've added the INSTALL updates and the doc for dev.k.o to my TODO list.

> I wrote the configure perl wrapper because:
>  1. it was on my todo list -- and it was a fun diversion (I occasionally
> like to write perl) 2. it seemed like a good thing to provide the
> distributions and non-developers
>
> Saying that...I would rather not have it... it will be a major pain to keep
> up-to-date.
>
> So, the consensus is to change the script to not actually run cmake, but
> instead print: "KDE no longer supports the autotools build change.  Please
> run:  cmake -D..."
>
> ??

Yes, I believe that is the consensus.
--
Matt