Tom Lord wrote: > are already installed. Call this set the "bootstrap packages". > > Let's then formally identify a _subset_ of the bootstrap packages, > which are those GNU tools that other (non-bootstrap) GNU packages are > allowed to depend on for the build process. For example, GNU Make > would probably be in this subset, as would a GNU shell. Call this set > the "build environment packages". >
insert your favourite scripting language. The current automake does contain perl code to scan makefile syntax. Just expand it - so it does not generate code to be executed later but to have it executed immediately. That's enough to identify bootstrap code: perl. As for gnu make - I know some build managment tools that export a their own version of `make`. So, do not rely on gnu make. And anyway, if you have gnu make then you don't need automake in most cases. I guess this discussion is void - it is not about "forking". It is about creating your own set of buildtools and to try to reach a level of matureness that we see in the autotools today. There are other attempts, may be you want to join them in their quest?