<page xmlns="http://projectmallard.org/1.0/"
      type="topic"
      id="autotools-project-backend">

  <info xmlns:facet="http://projectmallard.org/facet/1.0/">
    <facet:tag key="all-pages" value="whatever"/> <!--Include page in index-->
    <link type="guide" xref="project-manager#backend"/>
    <desc>
      Autotools project backend.
    </desc>
    <credit type="author">
      <name>Sébastien Granjoux</name>
      <email>seb.sfo@free.fr</email>
    </credit>
    <credit type="editor">
      <name>Philip Chimento</name>
      <email>philip.chimento@gmail.com</email>
    </credit>
  </info>

  <title>GNU Autotools project backend plugin</title>

  <p>
    This is the most common project format on Linux. It has been designed to
    distribute source code packages on a wide range of Unix-like systems.
    If you have ever installed a program using <cmd>configure</cmd>,
    <cmd>make</cmd> and <cmd>make install</cmd>, you probably have already
    used it as a user.
  </p>

  <p> 
    It is typically a bit more difficult to use as a developer.
    However, it is the default backend for <app>Anjuta</app>, which has features
    that make it easier to use. All the project manager's features are enabled
    when using it.
    You should be able to maintain a project using the Autotools backend without
    writing a line in <file>configure.ac</file> or any <file>Makefile.am</file> files.
  </p> 

  <note style="bug">
    <p>
      Autotools files give more information than a makefile, but the backend
      does not support all the possible tricks. If you find a project that
      cannot be read correctly, filing a <link
      href="https://bugzilla.gnome.org/browse.cgi?product=anjuta">bug report</link>
      will be appreciated.
      In the meantime, as a workaround, you can use the directory project backend
      instead. It is much more limited but should find all source files.
    </p>
  </note>


</page>

