\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
-@comment $Id: gnulib.texi,v 1.15 2005-07-30 13:47:19 karl Exp $
+@comment $Id: gnulib.texi,v 1.33 2007-03-15 22:58:36 eggert Exp $
@comment %**start of header
@setfilename gnulib.info
@settitle GNU Gnulib
@syncodeindex pg cp
@comment %**end of header
-@set UPDATED $Date: 2005-07-30 13:47:19 $
+@set UPDATED $Date: 2007-03-15 22:58:36 $
@copying
This manual is for GNU Gnulib (updated @value{UPDATED}),
which is a library of common routines intended to be shared at the
source level.
-Copyright @copyright{} 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+Copyright @copyright{} 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-@quotation
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
-Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
-and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the
-license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation
-License.''
-
-(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
-this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
-Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
-@end quotation
+Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover
+Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled
+``GNU Free Documentation License.''
@end copying
@dircategory Software development
@end ifnottex
@menu
-* Gnulib::
+* Introduction::
* Invoking gnulib-tool::
+* Miscellaneous Notes::
+* Particular Modules:: Documentation of Individual Modules
* Copying This Manual::
* Index::
@end menu
+@node Introduction
+@chapter Introduction
-@node Gnulib
-@chapter Gnulib
+Gnulib is a source code library. It provides basic functionalities to
+programs and libraries. Currently (as of October 2006) more than 30
+packages make use of Gnulib.
-This manual contains some bare-bones documentation, but not much more.
-It's mostly been a place to store notes until someone (you?)@ gets
-around to writing a coherent manual.
-
-Getting started:
+Resources:
@itemize
@item Gnulib is hosted at Savannah:
@end itemize
@menu
+* Library vs. Reusable Code::
+* Portability and Application Code::
+* Modules::
+* Various Kinds of Modules::
+* Collaborative Development::
+* Copyright::
+* Steady Development::
+* Openness::
+@end menu
+
+@include gnulib-intro.texi
+
+
+@include gnulib-tool.texi
+
+
+@node Miscellaneous Notes
+@chapter Miscellaneous Notes
+
+@menu
* Comments::
* Header files::
-* Quoting::
-* ctime::
-* inet_ntoa::
* Out of memory handling::
* Library version handling::
-* Regular expressions::
+* Windows sockets::
+* Libtool and Windows::
+* License Texinfo sources::
+* Build robot for gnulib::
@end menu
@end itemize
-@node Quoting
-@section Quoting
-
-@cindex Quoting
-@findex quote
-@findex quotearg
-
-Gnulib provides @samp{quote} and @samp{quotearg} modules to help with
-quoting text, such as file names, in messages to the user. Here's an
-example of using @samp{quote}:
-
-@example
-#include <quote.h>
- ...
- error (0, errno, _("cannot change owner of %s"), quote (fname));
-@end example
-
-This differs from
-
-@example
- error (0, errno, _("cannot change owner of `%s'"), fname);
-@end example
-
-@noindent in that @code{quote} escapes unusual characters in
-@code{fname}, e.g., @samp{'} and control characters like @samp{\n}.
-
-@findex quote_n
-However, a caveat: @code{quote} reuses the storage that it returns.
-Hence if you need more than one thing quoted at the same time, you
-need to use @code{quote_n}.
-
-@findex quotearg_alloc
-Also, the quote module is not suited for multithreaded applications.
-In that case, you have to use @code{quotearg_alloc}, defined in the
-@samp{quotearg} module, which is decidedly less convenient.
-
-
-@node ctime
-@section ctime
-@findex ctime
-
-The @code{ctime} function need not be reentrant, and consequently is
-not required to be thread safe. Implementations of @code{ctime}
-typically write the time stamp into static buffer. If two threads
-call @code{ctime} at roughly the same time, you might end up with the
-wrong date in one of the threads, or some undefined string. There is
-a re-entrant interface @code{ctime_r}, that take a pre-allocated
-buffer and length of the buffer, and return @code{NULL} on errors.
-The input buffer should be at least 26 bytes in size. The output
-string is locale-independent. However, years can have more than 4
-digits if @code{time_t} is sufficiently wide, so the length of the
-required output buffer is not easy to determine. Increasing the
-buffer size when @code{ctime_r} return @code{NULL} is not necessarily
-sufficient. The @code{NULL} return value could mean some other error
-condition, which will not go away by increasing the buffer size.
-
-A more flexible function is @code{strftime}. However, note that it is
-locale dependent.
-
-
-@node inet_ntoa
-@section inet_ntoa
-@findex inet_ntoa
-
-The @code{inet_ntoa} function need not be reentrant, and consequently
-is not required to be thread safe. Implementations of
-@code{inet_ntoa} typically write the time stamp into static buffer.
-If two threads call @code{inet_ntoa} at roughly the same time, you
-might end up with the wrong date in one of the threads, or some
-undefined string. Further, @code{inet_ntoa} is specific for
-@acronym{IPv4} addresses.
-
-A protocol independent function is @code{inet_ntop}.
-
-
@node Out of memory handling
@section Out of memory handling
However, we realize that some applications may not want to have the
GSS library abort execution in any situation. The GSS library support
a hook to let the application regain control and perform its own
-cleanups when an out of memory situation has occured. The application
+cleanups when an out of memory situation has occurred. The application
can define a function (having a @code{void} prototype, i.e., no return
value and no parameters) and set the library variable
@code{xalloc_fail_func} to that function. The variable should be
AC_DEFINE something like:
@example
-AC_DEFINE(check_version, stringprep_check_version, [Rename check_version.])
+AC_DEFINE(check_version, stringprep_check_version,
+ [Rename check_version.])
@end example
The @code{stringprep_check_version} function will thus be implemented
@end example
-@node Regular expressions
-@section Regular expressions
+@node Windows sockets
+@section Windows sockets
-Gnulib supports many different types of regular expressions; although
-the underlying features are the same or identical, the syntax used
-varies. The descriptions given here for the different types are
-generated automatically.
+There are several issues when building applications that should work
+under Windows. The most problematic part is for applications that use
+sockets.
-@include regexprops-generic.texi
+Hopefully, we can add helpful notes to this section that will help you
+port your application to Windows using gnulib.
+@subsection Getaddrinfo and WINVER
-@node Invoking gnulib-tool
-@chapter Invoking gnulib-tool
+This was written for the getaddrinfo module, but may be applicable to
+other functions too.
-@pindex gnulib-tool
-@cindex invoking @command{gnulib-tool}
+The getaddrinfo function exists in ws2tcpip.h and -lws2_32 on Windows
+XP. The function declaration is present if @code{WINVER >= 0x0501}.
+Windows 2000 does not have getaddrinfo in its @file{WS2_32.dll}.
-Run @samp{gnulib-tool --help}, and use the source.
-@command{gnulib-tool} is the way to import Gnulib modules.
+Thus, if you want to assume Windows XP or later, you can add
+AC_DEFINE(WINVER, 0x0501) to avoid compiling to (partial) getaddrinfo
+implementation.
-@menu
-* Initial import:: First import of Gnulib modules.
-* Importing updated files:: Subsequent imports.
-* Finishing touches:: Simplifying imports.
-@end menu
+If you want to support Windows 2000, don't do anything, but be aware
+that gnulib will use its own (partial) getaddrinfo implementation even
+on Windows XP. Currently the code does not attempt to determine if
+the getaddrinfo function is available during runtime.
+Todo: Make getaddrinfo.c open the WS2_32.DLL and check for the
+getaddrinfo symbol and use it if present, otherwise fall back to our
+own implementation.
-@node Initial import
-@section Initial import
-@cindex initial import
-Gnulib assumes your project uses Autoconf and Automake. Invoking
-@samp{gnulib-tool --import} will copy source files, create a
-@file{Makefile.am} to build them, and generate a @file{gnulib.m4} with
-Autoconf M4 macro declarations used by @file{configure.ac}.
+@node Libtool and Windows
+@section Libtool and Windows
-Our example will be a library that uses Autoconf, Automake and
-Libtool. It calls @code{strdup}, and you wish to use gnulib to make
-the package portable to C89 (which doesn't have @code{strdup}).
+If you want it to be possible to cross-compile your program to MinGW
+and you use Libtool, you need to put:
@example
-~/src/libfoo$ gnulib-tool --import strdup
-Module list with included dependencies:
- strdup
-File list:
- lib/strdup.c
- lib/strdup.h
- m4/onceonly_2_57.m4
- m4/strdup.m4
-Creating ./lib/Makefile.am...
-Creating ./m4/gnulib.m4...
-Finished.
-
-You may need to add #include directives for the following .h files.
- #include "strdup.h"
-
-Don't forget to add "lib/Makefile"
-to AC_CONFIG_FILES in "./configure.ac" and to mention
-"lib" in SUBDIRS in some Makefile.am.
-~/src/libfoo$
+AC_LIBTOOL_WIN32_DLL
@end example
-By default, the source code is copied into @file{lib/} and the M4
-macros in @file{m4/}. You can override these paths by using
-@code{--source-base=DIRECTORY} and @code{--m4-base=DIRECTORY}, or by
-adding @samp{gl_SOURCE_BASE(DIRECTORY)} and
-@samp{gl_M4_BASE(DIRECTORY)} to your @file{configure.ac}.
-Some modules also provide other files necessary
-for building. These files are copied into the directory specified
-by @samp{AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR} in @file{configure.ac} or by the
-@code{--aux-dir=DIRECTORY} option. If neither is specified, the
-current directory is assumed.
-
-@code{gnulib-tool} can make symbolic links instead
-of copying the source files. Use the @code{--symbolic}
-(or @code{-s} for short) option to do this.
-
-@code{gnulib-tool} will overwrite any pre-existing files, in
-particular @file{Makefile.am}. Unfortunately, separating the
-generated @file{Makefile.am} content (for building the gnulib library)
-into a separate file, say @file{gnulib.mk}, that could be included
-by your handwritten @file{Makefile.am} is not possible, due to how
-variable assignments are handled by Automake.
-
-Consequently, it can be a good idea to chose directories that are not
-already used by your projects, to separate gnulib imported files from
-your own files. This approach can also be useful if you want to avoid
-conflicts between other tools (e.g., @code{getextize} that also copy
-M4 files into your package. Simon Josefsson successfully uses a source
-base of @file{gl/}, and a M4 base of @file{gl/m4/}, in several
-packages.
-
-A few manual steps are required to finish the initial import.
-
-First, you need to make sure Autoconf can find the macro definitions
-in @file{gnulib.m4}. Use the @code{ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS} specifier in your
-top-level @file{Makefile.am} file, as in:
+in your @file{configure.ac}. This sets the correct names for the
+@code{OBJDUMP}, @code{DLLTOOL}, and @code{AS} tools for the build.
-@example
-ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I m4
-@end example
-
-Naturally, replace @file{m4} with the value from @code{--m4-base} or
-@code{gl_M4_BASE}. If the M4 base is @file{gl/m4} you would use:
+If you are building a library, you will also need to pass
+@code{-no-undefined} to make sure Libtool produces a DLL for your
+library. From a @file{Makefile.am}:
@example
-ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I gl/m4
+libgsasl_la_LDFLAGS += -no-undefined
@end example
-You are now ready to call the M4 macros in @code{gnulib.m4} from
-@file{configure.ac}. The macro @code{gl_EARLY} must be called as soon
-as possible after verifying that the C compiler is working.
-Typically, this is immediately after @code{AC_PROG_CC}, as in:
-@example
-...
-AC_PROG_CC
-gl_EARLY
-...
-@end example
-
-The core part of the gnulib checks are done by the macro
-@code{gl_INIT}. Place it further down in the file, typically where
-you normally check for header files or functions. Or in a separate
-section with other gnulib statements, such as @code{gl_SOURCE_BASE}.
-For example:
+@node License Texinfo sources
+@section License Texinfo sources
-@example
-...
-# For gnulib.
-gl_INIT
-...
-@end example
+Gnulib provides copies of the GNU GPL, GNU LGPL, and GNU FDL licenses
+in Texinfo form. (The master location is
+@url{http://www.gnu.org/licenses/}). These Texinfo documents have
+various node names and structures built into them; for your manual,
+you might like to change these. It's ok to do this, and a convenient
+way to do so is to use a context diff and the @option{--local-dir}
+option to @command{gnulib-tool}.
-@code{gl_INIT} will in turn call the macros related with the
-gnulib functions, be it specific gnulib macros, like @code{gl_FUNC_ALLOCA}
-or autoconf or automake macro like @code{AC_FUNC_ALLOCA} or
-@code{AM_FUNC_GETLINE} so there is no need to call those macros yourself
-when you use the corresponding gnulib modules.
+Of course the license texts themselves should not be changed at all.
-You must also make sure that the gnulib library is built. Add the
-@code{Makefile} in the gnulib source base directory to
-@code{AC_CONFIG_FILES}, as in:
+@node Build robot for gnulib
+@section Build robot for gnulib
-@example
-AC_CONFIG_FILES(... lib/Makefile ...)
-@end example
+To simplify testing on a wide set of platforms, gnulib is built on
+many platforms every day and the results are uploaded to:
-If your gnulib source base is @file{gl}, you would use:
+@url{http://autobuild.josefsson.org/gnulib/}
-@example
-AC_CONFIG_FILES(... gl/Makefile ...)
-@end example
+If you wish to help the gnulib development effort with build logs for
+your favorite platform, you may perform these steps:
-You must also make sure that @code{make} work in the gnulib directory.
-Add the gnulib source base directory to a @code{SUBDIRS} Makefile.am
-statement, as in:
+@enumerate
-@example
-SUBDIRS = lib
-@end example
+@item Create gnulib directory
-or if you, more likely, already have a few entries in @code{SUBDIRS},
-you can add something like:
+On a machine with recent automake, autoconf, m4 installed and with a
+gnulib cvs checkout (typically a Linux machine), use
@example
-SUBDIRS += lib
+gnulib-tool --create-megatestdir --with-tests --dir=..."
@end example
-If you are using a gnulib source base of @code{gl}, you would use:
+Note: The created directory uses ca. 512 MB on disk.
-@example
-SUBDIRS += gl
-@end example
+@item Transfer gnulib directory
-Finally, you have to add compiler and linker flags in the appropriate
-source directories, so that you can make use of the gnulib library.
-Since some modules (@samp{getopt}, for example) may copy files into
-the build directory, @file{top_builddir/lib} is needed as well
-as @file{top_srcdir/lib}. For example:
+Transfer this directory to a build machine (HP-UX, Cygwin, or
+whatever). Often it is easier to transfer one file, and this can be
+achieved by running, inside the directory the following commands:
@example
-...
-AM_CPPFLAGS = -I$(top_srcdir)/lib -I$(top_builddir)/lib
-...
-LIBADD = lib/libgnu.a
-...
+./configure
+make dist
@end example
-Don't forget to @code{#include} the various header files. In this
-example, you would need to make sure that @samp{#include "strdup.h"}
-is evaluated when compiling all source code files, that want to make
-use of @code{strdup}.
+And then transferring the @file{dummy-0.tar.gz} file.
-When an include file is provided by the gnulib
-you shouldn't try to include the corresponding system header files
-yourself but let the gnulib header file do it as the ordering
-of the definition for some symbols may be significant.
+@item Build modules
-For example, to use the @code{time_r} gnulib module you should
-use include header file provided by the gnulib, and so
-@samp{#include "time_r.h"}, but you shouldn't explicitely
-@samp{#include <time.h>} as it is already done in @file{time_r.h}
-before the redefinition of some symbols.
+On the build machine, run ./autobuild (or "nohup ./autobuild"). It
+creates a directory 'logs/' with a log file for each module.
-@node Importing updated files
-@section Importing updated files
+@item Submit build logs
-From time to time, you may want to invoke @samp{gnulib-tool --import}
-to update the files in your package. Once you have set up your
-package for gnulib, this step is quite simple. For example:
+Submit each log file to Simon's site, either through a
@example
-~/src/libfoo$ gnulib-tool --import --source-base gl --m4-base gl/m4 strdup
-Module list with included dependencies:
- strdup
-File list:
- lib/strdup.c
- lib/strdup.h
- m4/onceonly_2_57.m4
- m4/strdup.m4
-Creating ./lib/Makefile.am...
-Creating ./m4/gnulib.m4...
-Finished.
-
-Don't forget to add "lib/Makefile"
-to AC_CONFIG_FILES in "./configure.ac" and to mention
-"lib" in SUBDIRS in some Makefile.am.
-~/src/libfoo$
+mail `echo gnulib__at__autobuild.josefsson.org | sed -e s/__at__/@/`
@end example
-If you don't recall how you invoked the tool last time, the commands
-used (and the operations it resulted in) are placed in comments within
-the generated @file{Makefile.am} and @file{gnulib.m4}, as in:
+or through netcat
@example
-...
-# Invoked as: gnulib-tool --import strdup
-# Reproduce by: gnulib-tool --import --dir=. --lib=libgnu --source-base=lib --m4-base=m4 --libtool strdup
-...
+autobuild-submit logs/*
@end example
+@end enumerate
-@node Finishing touches
-@section Finishing touches
+@node Particular Modules
+@chapter Particular Modules
-Invoking @samp{gnulib-tool --import} with the proper parameters (e.g.,
-@samp{--m4-base gl/m4}) and list of modules (e.g., @samp{strdup
-snprintf getline minmax}) can be tedious. To simplify this procedure,
-you may put the command line parameters in your @file{configure.ac}.
-For example:
+@menu
+* Quoting::
+* ctime::
+* error and progname::
+* gcd::
+* inet_ntoa::
+* Regular expressions::
+* Supporting Relocation::
+@end menu
-@example
-...
-AC_PROG_CC
-gl_EARLY
-...
-# For gnulib.
-gl_SOURCE_BASE(gl)
-gl_M4_BASE(gl/m4)
-gl_LIB(libgl)
-gl_MODULES(getopt progname strdup dummy exit error getpass-gnu getaddrinfo)
-gl_INIT
-...
-@end example
+@include quote.texi
+@include error.texi
+@include ctime.texi
+@include gcd.texi
+@include inet_ntoa.texi
+@include relocatable-maint.texi
-This illustrate all macros defined in @file{gnulib.m4}. With the
-above, importing new files are as simple as running @samp{gnulib-tool
---import} with no additional parameters.
+@node Regular expressions
+@section Regular expressions
-The macros @code{gl_EARLY}, @code{gl_INIT}, @code{gl_SOURCE_BASE}, and
-@code{gl_M4_BASE} have been discussed earlier. The @code{gl_LIB}
-macro can be used if you wish to change the library name (by default
-@file{libgnu.a} or @file{libgnu.la} if you use libtool). The
-@code{gl_MODULES} macro is used to specify which modules to import.
+Gnulib supports many different types of regular expressions; although
+the underlying features are the same or identical, the syntax used
+varies. The descriptions given here for the different types are
+generated automatically.
+
+@include regexprops-generic.texi
@node Copying This Manual
projects / gnulib.git / blobdiff