checking version of a specific language interpreter/compiler

[Guillaume Rousse]

I'm trying to implement a minimum version check for OCaml. Looking at
various existing implementations of such checks (python, libxml2,
etc...), I see all of them relying on executing a code fragment in the
target language through AC_TRY_RUN, instead of standard shell code.

However, autoconf manual discourage such checks:
"Avoid running test programs if possible, because this prevents people
from configuring your package for cross-compiling."

So, is there a reason for prefering target code here ?
-- 
Guillaume Rousse
Projet Estime, INRIA
Domaine de Voluceau
Rocquencourt - B.P. 105
78153 Le Chesnay Cedex - France