# why does php support 'only' out-of-date/obsolete versions of automake/autoconf?

- Thread: https://externals.io/message/25973
- Original archive: https://news-web.php.net/php.internals/25973
- Started by OpenMacNews on 2006-10-06T17:17:37+00:00
- Messages: 3
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## #25973 — OpenMacNews — 2006-10-06T17:17:37+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/25973#25973

php52-cvs' "INSTALL" states:

	"autoconf 2.13 and automake 1.4+ are required (newer versions of
autoconf may work, but are not supported)"

@ distrowatch, distros haven't shipped for ages with automake 1.4.

automake 1.4 was released:                     14-Jan-1999
current/stable automake (v1.9.6) was released: 10-Jul-2005

(1) why has this not been updated to more recent/shipped/released
versions ?  is there a legit reason?

(2) what needs to happen to get this updated? who leads the charge?

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## #25974 — Ilia Alshanetsky — 2006-10-06T17:27:00+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/25973#25974 · In reply to: #25973

PHP works just fine with newer version of autoconf and automake.  For  
example I am using autoconf 2.60 and automake 1.9.6 and not  
experiencing any build issues. One of the reasons we recommend  
autoconf 2.13 is because it has a non-broken implementation of config  
test caching and unlike autoconf 2.60 does not require re-running of  
every configuration test on PHP rebuild.




> php52-cvs' "INSTALL" states:
>
> 	"autoconf 2.13 and automake 1.4+ are required (newer versions of
> autoconf may work, but are not supported)"
>
> @ distrowatch, distros haven't shipped for ages with automake 1.4.
>
> automake 1.4 was released:                     14-Jan-1999
> current/stable automake (v1.9.6) was released: 10-Jul-2005
>
> (1) why has this not been updated to more recent/shipped/released
> versions ?  is there a legit reason?
>
> (2) what needs to happen to get this updated? who leads the charge?
>
> -- 
> 
> 
>
>

Ilia Alshanetsky

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## #25976 — OpenMacNews — 2006-10-06T17:35:57+00:00

URL: https://externals.io/message/25973#25976 · In reply to: #25974

hi ilia,

> PHP works just fine with newer version of autoconf and automake.  For
> example I am using autoconf 2.60 and automake 1.9.6 and not
> experiencing any build issues. One of the reasons we recommend
> autoconf 2.13 is because it has a non-broken implementation of config
> test caching and unlike autoconf 2.60 does not require re-running of
> every configuration test on PHP rebuild.

yes, i know it "works" fine :-)  in fact, i personally build/use php 
52cvs with:

	autoconf (GNU Autoconf) 2.60
	automake (GNU automake) 1.9.6

on my osx 10.4.8 box.

the problem is that *other* php-related projects' code breaks with 
recent versions of automake.

of course, i 1st tried to talk to the project's developer about the 
issue.

the response was, roughly, that -- since php "only supports automake 
1.4" that they'll only support v1.4.

which is all fine & good -- except when the developer of the 'other' 
project is also ON the php-development team as well.

in response to questions abt this @ #php, one dev's response -- 
probably very accurate -- is that this is the case because "autoconf 
issues are boring to work on".

one great big catch-22 :-(