4 ms·
"For instance autotools is largely a relic of back in the days where C++ was C with classes..." Minor point: autotools is a relic of the days when there were m
by mcguire 7y ago
"For instance autotools is largely a relic of back in the days where C++ was C with classes..."
Minor point: autotools is a relic of the days when there were multiple, only somewhat compatible implementation of Unix in common use. Now that the world is a Linux monoculture and most software is installed by end users in the form of pre-built binary packages, the form of portability provided by autotools is no longer needed.
- MaxBarraclough 7y agoThat doesn't sound right. The world isn't a Linux monoculture. Most C++ code I've written has been Linux/Windows. I've never targeted other Unices, but they're out there, and I like to think my portable code would build under FreeBSD with minimal effort.
- rumanator 7y agoI don't agree with you at all. Autotools boil down to a bunch of shell scripts that enable projects to abstract away the OS/distribution while following a somewhat standard structure. And binary packages are completely irrelevant and unrelated, because autotools is a build system, thus designed to help build software. Although the availability of source code packages enabled build systems to be also used as installers, thay does not mean the need for build systems is replaced with plain old installers.