function configure_source

This function is one of the longest and most complex of the src2pkg functions. Configuring sources can be difficult and many package builds will fail at this step. Because of that this function provides many chances to cutomize configuration using the Build Option variables.

Main purpose

  1. Discover what kind of configuration system is used by the sources and the location of the files.
  2. Configure the sources using the options supplied by the user and/or defaults.
  3. Repair or pre-prepare broken or incomplete sources.
  4. Skip the step if not used.

Notes

src2pkg can automatically recognize and work with several different configuration systems or with sources that use no configuration at all.
autoconf sources which are incomplete or use outdated files may be repaired before configuration. For example some CVS 'snapshot' tarballs require running autogen.sh to generate the autoconf files. configure_source can usually take care of this  and other problems like out-dated autoconf/automake files automatically.

imake, scons and jam sources are configured using a simple default method appropriate for each.

Sources that use a simple Makefile don't include a configure script so not much can be done. src2pkg does look for conflicts with the installation prefix and tries to repair it if there is only one Makefile in the package. This covers many small programs which are hard-coded to install to the prefix /usr/local. If you are using the default src2pkg PRE_FIX of /usr, src2pkg will try to correct the Makefile so that the software is compiled for PRE_FIX=/usr. A more dependable way to handle this is by providing a patch which corrects the Makefiles(s).

Some source archives have the Makefiles or configure script in a subdirectory of the sources. configure_source is usally able to find these if they are in a directory called src, Src or something with the same name or name+lib as the package name.  The final directory where the files are found is called the CONFIG_DIR. With 'normal' sources where the config files are in the main directory CONFIG_DIR is the same as SRC_DIR.

When autoconf sources are configured the CFLAGS variable is passed to configure along with the prefix and any other configuration options you specify. You can also specify the CONFIG_COMMAND to be used instead of 'configure', though this is rarely needed. Examples: 'Configure' or 'configure Linux'

The CFLAGS exported before running the CONFIG_COMMAND are made up of several variables which are strung together for the final value. When pre_process was run the STD_FLAGS are set to match the architecture of your machine, unless you have given them. You can also use the EXTRA_FLAGS argument to add other options to the string, such as -fPIC (needed for x86_64 architecture). Compiler optimization can also be explicitly set to whatever you want using OPTIM_FLAGS='' , or easily set to -Os (maximum size optimization) with MAXIMIZE_FOR_SIZE=YES.

The arguments passed to the CONFIG_COMMAND are also composed of several easily configurable variables which you supply when needed or are derived from the defaults, etc.  The configuration prefix (--prefix) is set to the system default which is normally /usr. Software which is to be installed in a non-default prefix needs to have the PRE_FIX specified. Other options which usually follow the prefix na be supplied using the STD_CONFIGS and EXTRA_CONFIGS arguments.

STD_CONFIGS should mostly be used in the src2pkg.conf file for setting up options to configure which will nearly always be needed, like STD_CONFIGS='--libdir=/usr/lib64' for 64-bit systems.

EXTRA_CONFIGS is the most used of the optional variables since most configurations which fail do so because the configure script needs to have one or more options passed to it for successful configuration. When you want or need to pass arguments to the configure script besides the prefix, use the EXTRA_CONFIGS variable. Example: EXTRA_CONFIGS='--without-gnome --disable-tests'

configure_source skip to the next step if nothing needs to be done, or you can explicitly skip the step by using CONFIG_COMMAND=skip.

If configuration fails the script will exit gracefully. If you are running src2pkg in the default non-verbose mode you won't see the actual output from the configure command. Using REPLAY_ERRORS=YES will cause src2pkg to turn on the verbosity and re-run the configuration commands after failing so you can see the ouput. Or you can see all the ouput the first time by using QUIET=NO. When configuration fails src2pkg will search the sources for rpm-type .spec files or debian control files which may contain information about requirements or dependencies of the software you are trying to build. This information will be shown, if found.

Some configure scripts are interactive and won't work unless you use QUIET=NO. If you are attempting a build and the process 'hangs' at this step, kill it with <CTRL+c>. Then restart the build and use QUIET=NO to see what is happening. Using DEBUG=1 may also help to show what's going wrong if you have problems with a build.