@node Invoking gnulib-tool
@chapter Invoking gnulib-tool
-@c Copyright (C) 2005-2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c Copyright (C) 2005-2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
-@c under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or
+@c under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
@c any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
@c Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover
@c Texts. A copy of the license is included in the ``GNU Free
simplifies the management of source files, @file{Makefile.am}s and
@file{configure.ac} in packages incorporating Gnulib modules.
+@file{gnulib-tool} is not installed in a standard directory that is
+contained in the @code{PATH} variable. It needs to be run directly in
+the directory that contains the Gnulib source code. You can do this
+either by specifying the absolute filename of @file{gnulib-tool}, or
+you can also use a symbolic link from a place inside your @code{PATH}
+to the @file{gnulib-tool} file of your preferred and most up-to-date
+Gnulib checkout, like this:
+@smallexample
+$ ln -s $HOME/gnu/src/gnulib.git/gnulib-tool $HOME/bin/gnulib-tool
+@end smallexample
+
Run @samp{gnulib-tool --help} for information. To get familiar with
@command{gnulib-tool} without affecting your sources, you can also try
some commands with the option @samp{--dry-run}; then
* gettextize and autopoint:: Caveat: @code{gettextize} and @code{autopoint} users!
* Localization:: Handling Gnulib's own message translations.
* VCS Issues:: Integration with Version Control Systems.
+* Unit tests:: Bundling the unit tests of the Gnulib modules.
@end menu
@item
In projects which commit all source files, whether generated or not, into
their VCS, the @code{gnulib-tool} generated files should all be committed.
+In this case, you also pass the option @samp{--no-vc-files} to
+@code{gnulib-tool}.
Gnulib also contains files generated by @command{make} (and removed by
@code{make clean}), using information determined by @command{configure}.
because they were missing.
@end itemize
+
+
+@node Unit tests
+@section Bundling the unit tests of the Gnulib modules
+
+You can bundle the unit tests of the Gnulib modules together with your
+package, through the @samp{--with-tests} option. Together with
+@samp{--with-tests}, you also specify the directory for these tests
+through the @samp{--tests-base} option. Of course, you need to add this
+directory to the @code{SUBDIRS} variable in the @code{Makefile.am} of
+the parent directory.
+
+The advantage of having the unit tests bundled is that when your program
+has a problem on a particular platform, running the unit tests may help
+determine quickly if the problem is on Gnulib's side or on your package's
+side. Also, it helps verifying Gnulib's portability, of course.
+
+The unit tests will be compiled and run when the user runs @samp{make check}.
+When the user runs only @samp{make}, the unit tests will not be compiled.
+
+In the @code{SUBDIRS} variable, it is useful to put the Gnulib tests directory
+after the directory containing the other tests, not before:
+
+@smallexample
+SUBDIRS = gnulib-lib src man tests gnulib-tests
+@end smallexample
+
+@noindent
+This will ensure that on platforms where there are test failures in either
+directory, users will see and report the failures from the tests of your
+program.
+
+Note: In packages which use more than one invocation of @code{gnulib-tool}
+in the scope of the same @code{configure.ac}, you cannot use
+@samp{--with-tests}. You will have to use a separate @code{configure.ac}
+in this case.
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