Re: checking for libraries that link but do not run

[Bob Friesenhahn]

On Mon, 5 Oct 2009, Ben Pfaff wrote:
> If your advice is correct, then any use of AC_RUN_IFELSE (if any
> libraries are added to LIBS) must be incorrect, because Autoconf
> does not have the correct knowledge to run a program.  It's hard
> for me to believe that, because the Autoconf manual only mentions
> problems with AC_RUN_IFELSE when cross-compiling and doesn't say
> anything about other pitfalls.

There are many pitfalls associated with running a program.  If you do 
choose to validate that a program will actually run from the build 
directory with the currently installed libraries, then you need to be 
prepared for dealing with the pitfalls. :-)

Most configure scripts don't seem to try to run programs.  The 
configure script for my package does run a program for one of its 
tests.

Bob
--
Bob Friesenhahn
address@hidden, http://www.simplesystems.org/users/bfriesen/
GraphicsMagick Maintainer,    http://www.GraphicsMagick.org/