Mike Frysinger 3099097d74 rm: handle -f w/no arguments gracefully
Fixes automake bug https://bugs.gnu.org/10828.

Delete the configure check that would abort if `rm -f` does not work,
and delete the plans to make this a hard requirement in the future.

Instead, test to see if `rm -f` fails w/out arguments.  If it does,
define am__rm_f such that it always passes at least the "" argument
when deleting files.  If it doesn't fail, then we can omit the "".

Then go through lib/am/ and update places where we use the pattern
`test -z ... || rm -f ...` and replace with $(am__rm_f).

* NEWS: Mention support for `rm -f` w/out arguments.
* PLANS/rm-f-without-args.txt: Remove.
* lib/am/check.am: Use new $(am__rm_f) helper.
* lib/am/clean.am: Likewise.
* lib/am/header-vars.am: Likewise.
* lib/am/inst-vars.am: Likewise.
* lib/am/libs.am: Likewise.
* lib/am/ltlib.am: Likewise.
* lib/am/progs.am: Likewise.
* lib/am/texinfos.am: Likewise.
* m4/init.m4: Delete `rm -f` checks and call _AM_PROG_RM_F.
* m4/rmf.m4: Define new _AM_PROG_RM_F macro.
* t/rm-f-probe.sh: Update test.
2022-02-20 19:57:40 -05:00
..
2017-09-19 13:10:44 +02:00
2017-09-19 13:10:44 +02:00
2013-01-03 12:03:37 +01:00
2017-09-19 13:10:44 +02:00

"Plans" for future or on-going Automake development.

The contents is meant to help ensure a more controlled and smooth
development and evolution for Automake, in several ways.

 - Having the plans clearly spelled out should will avoid messy
   roadmaps with no clear way forward or with muddy or ill-defined
   aims or purposes; a trap this is too easy to fall into.

 - Keeping planned changes cooking and re-hashed for a while should
   ensure rough edges are smoothed up, transitions are planned in a
   proper way (hopefully avoiding debacles like the AM_MKDIR_PROG_P
   deprecation and the AM_CONFIG_HEADER too-abrupt removal), and
   "power users" have more chances of getting informed in due time,
   thus having all the time to prepare for the changes or raise
   objections against them.

 - Having the plans clearly stated and registered in a "centralized"
   location should make it more difficult to them to slip through
   the cracks, getting forgotten or (worse) only half-implemented.

 - Even for discussions and plans registered on the Bug Tracker
   as well, a corresponding entry in the PLANS directory can help
   in keeping main ideas summarized, and consensus and/or objections
   registered and easily compared.