automake
TLDR
Generate Makefile.in
SYNOPSIS
automake [--add-missing] [--copy] [options] [Makefile...]
DESCRIPTION
automake generates Makefile.in templates from Makefile.am files. It works with autoconf to create the complete GNU Build System, handling compilation, installation, and distribution tasks.
Automake provides portable makefiles that work across Unix-like systems.
PARAMETERS
--add-missing
Add missing standard files (install-sh, missing, etc.)--copy
Copy files instead of symlinking--force-missing
Replace existing standard files-W category
Warning level--foreign
Relax GNU standards--gnits
Stricter GNU standards-a, --add-missing
Add missing auxiliary files-c, --copy
Copy auxiliary files
WORKFLOW
1. Write Makefile.am
2. Run automake to generate Makefile.in
3. Run autoconf to generate configure
4. Users run ./configure to generate Makefile
CAVEATS
Steep learning curve. Generated Makefiles are complex. Requires understanding of autotools conventions. Many projects now use CMake or Meson instead.
HISTORY
Automake was created by David MacKenzie and Tom Tromey, first released in 1994 to complement autoconf with makefile generation.
SEE ALSO
autoconf(1), autoreconf(1), make(1)
