[Ffmpeg-devel] Re: build systems

[Burkhard Plaum]

> Is there really nothing around that would replace autotools
> if they are so "bad" ? Then why hasn't anyone written
> a replacement yet?

I don't remember where, but I read a discussion on alternatives,
where people came to the conclusion that the REAL problem is the
"make" program. automake exists because portable Makefiles are not 
easy to write.

> Resp. why is auto* so bad?

The idea in this thread was to switch individual codecs on/off with
automatic tracking, which other routines are needed (to get the
smallest possible lavc for a custom codec selection). 

I have enough experience with autotools to know, that such a mechanism 
will become messy. The Makefiles become REALLY big, if one makes extensive use 
of conditional compilation (AM_CONDITIONAL). And exactly this would be needed 
for individual codec selection.

That's right, most projects (including mine) use autotools, but only few 
people really *love* them :)