github-downloaded source - need the missing puzzle-piece please

jr_bob_dobbs · 02-25-2018, 01:06 PM

So I'm in this situation again. I have to get a package from github because it is available nowhere else. I unzip and get this directory:

Code:

autogen.sh  configure.ac  docs    libcacard.pc.in  Makefile.am  README.md  tests
build-aux   COPYING       git.mk  m4               NEWS         src

Note the lack of a certain file: configure. Why do github-uploaders ALWAYS forget that file? WHY?

Does everyone say to themselves, "I think I'll upload a package to github, then I'll forget a completely a crucial file, one whose absence renders my upload completely and utterly pointless. Yeah, that's a plan."

WHY??????

Googling has revealed a glimmer of a half-hint: autoreconf, autoconf and automake, but details are never there. The man pages provide a good long read, but somehow lacking the actual needed data.

Experimentation has shown the following.

1) renaming Makefile.am Makefile and then running make does not work

2) renaming "configure.ac" to "configure" and then running ./configure does not work

3) typing either of:

Code:

  autoreconf ; autoconf ; automake
  autoreconf ; automake ; autoconf
  autoconf ; automake ; autoreconf
  autoconf ; autoreconf ; automake
  automake ; autoreconf ; autoconf
  automake ; autoconf ; autoreconf

does not work

I am almost sure there are one are more commands to be typed. They are the same commands for every git-downloaded package. They must be very specific, I am sure with specific switches/options. No where in all of my googling have I found the exact sequence of commands.

Can someone please tell me? Thank you.

business_kid · 02-25-2018, 02:13 PM

I seem to vaguely remember running

Code:

xmkmf -a

followed possibly by

Code:

./autogen.sh

Try it anyhow.

dugan · 02-25-2018, 02:17 PM

"configure" isn't there because it's meant to be generated from the files that are.

You can either do:

Code:

autoreconf -i

or

Code:

sh autogen.sh

If neither of those work, then post a link to that particular project's GitHub page.

scasey · 02-25-2018, 07:09 PM

Sorry. I have to ask: What does the README file say?

jr_bob_dobbs · 02-26-2018, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scasey

Sorry. I have to ask: What does the README file say?

Well, there is a README.md file. Not sure why but often proper file names are mangled by github so that there is a .md on the end. From the most recent had-to-get-it-from-git package, the entire readme:

Code:

# libcacard ![alt text][travis]

CAC (Common Access Card) library

This library provides emulation of smart cards to a virtual card
reader running in a guest virtual machine.

It implements DoD CAC standard with separate pki containers
(compatible coolkey), using certificates read from NSS.

# History

This project used to be part of qemu until version 2.5. The history
has been preserved and it inherits the tags and version.

# Authors

This project was originally developped by:

- Alon Levy <alevy@redhat.com>
- Robert Relyea <rrelyea@redhat.com>

[travis]: https://travis-ci.org/SPICE/libcacard.svg?branch=master

Hmm, savor the detail, oh yes.

Anticipating your next question, no INSTALL, INSTALL.md

[hr]

Stumbled (almost literally) onto a command that actually worked:

Code:

autoreconf -fiv

That was before I read dugan's post. D'oh!

Will it work in the future for other has-to-be-git-can't-get-it-anywhere-else packages? Only time will tell.

Thank you, all, for the replies.

Not marking this solved just yet, in case the command doesn't work on the next package I try it on.

scasey · 02-27-2018, 03:15 PM

autogen.sh starts with:

Code:

#!/bin/sh
# Run this to generate all the initial makefiles, etc.

and it sets up for and runs:

Code:

autoreconf --verbose --force --install -Wno-portability

John VV · 02-27-2018, 03:30 PM

seeing as there is no link to this software
a GUESS is this it ????????????
https://github.com/SPICE/libcacard
BUT that is a 2year old fork of this
https://cgit.freedesktop.org/spice/libcacard/

and version 2.53 has a MAJOR!!!!! security fix

there is a makefile.am and a configure.ac

you need to build the "configure" file FOR YOUR SYSTEM
and your installed versions of the discrepancies

to do this

Code:

cd /to/the/folder/with/the/software
autoreconf -iv 
./configure --prefix=/YOUR/INSTALL/LOCATION 
make 
su
------ your root password when asked for ----
make install