autoreconf

autoreconf [OPTION]... [FILE]...

-f, --force
    Force regeneration of all files, even if up-to-date

-i, --install
    Install auxiliary files by copying instead of symlinking

-c, --copy
    Synonym for --install: copy auxiliary files

-n, --dry-run
    Pretend to run tools without making changes

-v, --verbose
    Print detailed information about actions

-q, -s, --quiet
    Suppress output messages

-V, --version
    Display version information and exit

-h, --help
    Show usage summary and exit

--skip=TOOL
    Skip running the specified TOOL

--warnings=CATEGORY
    Control warning verbosity by category

--trace
    Print commands as they are executed

--prefix=PREFIX
    Override installation prefix for tools

autoreconf is a GNU Autotools script that automatically runs autoconf, automake, aclocal, autoheader, and libtoolize to regenerate configure scripts, Makefiles.in, and other build files from configure.ac (or configure.in) and Makefile.am files.

It detects which tools are needed based on the presence of macros and dependencies, ensuring the build system stays consistent. Developers run it after modifying autotools input files, during package maintenance, or when porting to new systems.

By default, it uses installed tool versions and symlinks auxiliary files, but options allow forcing updates or installing copies. This streamlines the autotools workflow, avoiding manual invocation of each tool.

Modifies files in place; always use version control. Requires full Autotools installed. May fail if macros undefined or tools missing. Avoid in distributed tarballs without -fiv.

Run autoreconf -fiv in project root after editing configure.ac or Makefile.am.
Combines force (-f), install (-i), verbose (-v).

0 if successful, 1 if tools failed, >1 for other errors.

Developed as part of GNU Autotools in the early 1990s by the Free Software Foundation. Evolved with autoconf (1980s origins) to automate portable builds. Current stable in Autotools 2.71 (2023).

autoconf(1), automake(1), aclocal(1), autoheader(1), libtoolize(1)