Autotools - linking application and library and dependency issue

AuthorsGary · 12-09-2012, 01:39 AM

Hi Guys,

I'm trying to use autotools for the first time, and I'm quite new to it, I've read several tutorials about it and still I can't find myself, Autotools seems like everything I need (and will need in the future) but it is so complected

anyhow, here are my questions:

1. my project tree is quite simple:
1.1 one application composed of 2-3 files.
1.2 one static library (not shared object) that is based on other standards linux library (pthread for example).

I've tried to create a configure.ac and Makefile.am files, started with autoscan template to create the configure.ac file, it all goes well when using the

Code:

autoreconf -i

but when trying to compile with

Code:

make

the completion fails, I'm quite sure that there is something wrong with my Makefile.am

Code:

AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects

bin_PROGRAMS = testapp
testapp_SOURCES = tests/testapp_threaded.c \
tests/common.h \
tests/worker.c
testapp_LDADD = workqueue.a

noinst_LIBRARIES = workqueue.a
workqueue_a_SOURCES = lib/workqueue.h \
lib/workqueue.h
workqueue_a_LDADD = pthread

2. is there another build system nearly as powerful as the autotools but more user friendly for linux world?

I must say that my intention here is to learn the process and not to solve a specific issue cause I'm sure I'm gonna need to handle such situations in the near future.

many thanks in advance

ntubski · 12-09-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuthorsGary

it all goes well when using the

Code:

autoreconf -i

but when trying to compile with

Code:

make

the completion fails,

You didn't say what "fails" means, are there some error message, or what? I guess the problem is that you are missing a step, it goes like this:

Code:

autoreconf does configure.ac ---> configure & Makefile.am --> Makefile.in
./configure does Makefile.in ---> Makefile // NOTE: you missed this step
make uses Makefile to perform compilation.

Quote:

I'm quite sure that there is something wrong with my Makefile.am

Code:

...
noinst_LIBRARIES = workqueue.a
workqueue_a_SOURCES = lib/workqueue.h \
lib/workqueue.h
workqueue_a_LDADD = pthread

One of those hs should be a c, right? I also think pthread should linked to the final executable, not the helper library. Furthermore, you should also pass -pthread while compiling:

Quote:

man gcc
...
-pthread

Adds support for multithreading with the pthreads library. This option sets flags for both the preprocessor and linker.

Quote:

2. is there another build system nearly as powerful as the autotools but more user friendly for linux world?

I think the most common system after autotools is CMake. If you aren't looking to be portable to other unixes, using plain GNU Make is probably enough.