DOKK / manpages / debian 12 / autoconf / autom4te.1.en
AUTOM4TE(1) User Commands AUTOM4TE(1)

autom4te - Generate files and scripts thanks to M4

autom4te [OPTION]... [FILES]

Run GNU M4 on the FILES, avoiding useless runs. Output the traces if tracing, the frozen file if freezing, otherwise the expansion of the FILES.

If some of the FILES are named 'FILE.m4f' they are considered to be M4 frozen files of all the previous files (which are therefore not loaded). If 'FILE.m4f' is not found, then 'FILE.m4' will be used, together with all the previous files.

Some files may be optional, i.e., will only be processed if found in the include path, but then must end in '.m4?'; the question mark is not part of the actual file name.

print this help, then exit
print version number, then exit
verbosely report processing
don't remove temporary files
save output in FILE (defaults to '-', stdout)
don't rely on cached values
report the warnings falling in CATEGORY
specify the set of M4 macros to use
preserve results for future runs in DIRECTORY
disable the cache
change the non trace output file mode (0666)
don't use M4 frozen files

'Autoconf'
create Autoconf configure scripts
'Autotest'
create Autotest test suites
'M4sh'
create M4sh shell scripts
'M4sugar'
create M4sugar output

cross compilation issues
GNU coding standards (default in gnu and gnits modes)
obsolete features or constructions (default)
user redefinitions of Automake rules or variables
portability issues (default in gnu and gnits modes)
portability-recursive
nested Make variables (default with -Wportability)
extra portability issues related to obscure tools
dubious syntactic constructs (default)
unsupported or incomplete features (default)
all the warnings
turn off warnings in CATEGORY
turn off all the warnings
treat warnings as errors

The environment variables 'M4' and 'WARNINGS' are honored.

prepend directory DIR to search path
append directory DIR to search path

report the MACRO invocations
prepare to trace MACRO in a future run

produce an M4 frozen state file for FILES

$$
literal $
$f
file where macro was called
$l
line where macro was called
$d
nesting depth of macro call
$n
name of the macro
$NUM
argument NUM, unquoted and with newlines
$SEP@
all arguments, with newlines, quoted, and separated by SEP
$SEP*
all arguments, with newlines, unquoted, and separated by SEP
$SEP%
all arguments, without newlines, unquoted, and separated by SEP

SEP can be empty for the default (comma for @ and *, colon for %), a single character for that character, or {STRING} to use a string.

Written by Akim Demaille.

Report bugs to <bug-autoconf@gnu.org>.
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This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

autoconf(1), automake(1), autoreconf(1), autoupdate(1), autoheader(1), autoscan(1), config.guess(1), config.sub(1), ifnames(1), libtool(1).

The full documentation for autom4te is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and autom4te programs are properly installed at your site, the command

info autom4te

should give you access to the complete manual.

January 2023 GNU Autoconf 2.71