Thread: compiling a program that has no configure script

  1. #1
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    compiling a program that has no configure script

    i'm trying to compile a program that has no configure script, only a makefile. i've tried several things:

    Code:
    $ cd R-1.9.0/tests/Embedding/
    $ ./configure
    -/bin/bash: ./configure: No such file or directory
    $ make
    make: *** No targets specified and no makefile found.  Stop.
    $ aclocal
    aclocal-1.9: `configure.ac' or `configure.in' is required
    $ automake
    automake-1.9: `configure.ac' or `configure.in' is required
    $ autoconf
    autoconf-2.59: no input file
    the contents of Makefile.in can be found here: http://rafb.net/paste/results/VpZyPG23.html

    what do i have to do to build it? thanks.

  2. #2
    Registered User Scribbler's Avatar
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    Have you tried make -f <name of makefile>? In your case make -f Makefile.in.

    make executes commands in the makefile to update one or more target
    names, where name is typically a program. If no -f option is present,
    make will look for the makefiles GNUmakefile, makefile, and Makefile,
    in that order.

  3. #3
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    here's what happens:
    Code:
    $ make -f Makefile.in
    Makefile.in:11: ../../Makeconf: No such file or directory
    make: *** No rule to make target `../../Makeconf'.  Stop.
    so i copied ../../Makeconf.in to ../../Makeconf and tried again:
    Code:
    $ make -f Makefile.in
    ../../Makeconf:4: @top_srcdir@/share/make/vars.mk: No such file or directory
    ../../Makeconf:98: *** missing separator.  Stop.
    i wonder if they intended for users to build the application with a different set of make tools (non-gnu). any other suggestions? should i consult the developers?

  4. #4
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    How about just
    make

    Maybe the makefile (not the makefile.in) is simple enough not to need a configuration.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

  5. #5
    Cat without Hat CornedBee's Avatar
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    Or rather, the program is simple enough not to need platform adaption. Or the programmer never intended to target any platform but Linux.


    OR


    If a Makefile.in exists, then the programmer probably didn't run autoconf himself. Type:
    autoconf
    and it should generate the configure script. Then do
    ./configure
    to configure and
    make
    to build.
    All the buzzt!
    CornedBee

    "There is not now, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, any programming language in which it is the least bit difficult to write bad code."
    - Flon's Law

  6. #6
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    Code:
    $ autoconf
    autoconf-2.59: no input file
    the autoconf man page says it expects a configure.ac or configure.in file, neither of which exist.
    Code:
    $ make
    make: *** No targets specified and no makefile found.  Stop.

  7. #7
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    How about

    make all

    Or even just posting more information so we don't keep guessing.......
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

  8. #8
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    Code:
    $ make all
    make: *** No rule to make target `all'.  Stop.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem
    Or even just posting more information so we don't keep guessing.......
    your first question (and CornedBee's question) were both answered in my initial post. i was being polite by not bringing this to your attention in my last post.

    here is what i'm trying to build (it depends on R libraries):
    http://129.109.84.26/r.tar.gz

  9. #9
    Cat without Hat CornedBee's Avatar
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    OK, some research showed me your problem. You're trying to compile part of a larger source tree. The configure script is two directories above the thing you're trying to compile. As shown here:
    https://svn.r-project.org/R/trunk/
    You're trying to compile only the tests/Embedding subdirectory. You need the whole source.
    All the buzzt!
    CornedBee

    "There is not now, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, any programming language in which it is the least bit difficult to write bad code."
    - Flon's Law

  10. #10
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    ah, i see. that's supposed to be an example of how to embed R into your C program, so i figured it was self-contained.

    thanks for the help!

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