(autoconf.info)Site Details

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9.3 Configuring Site Details
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Some software packages require complex site-specific information.  Some
examples are host names to use for certain services, company names, and
email addresses to contact.  Since some configuration scripts generated
by Metaconfig ask for such information interactively, people sometimes
wonder how to get that information in Autoconf-generated configuration
scripts, which aren't interactive.

   Such site configuration information should be put in a file that is
edited _only by users_, not by programs.  The location of the file can
either be based on the 'prefix' variable, or be a standard location such
as the user's home directory.  It could even be specified by an
environment variable.  The programs should examine that file at run
time, rather than at compile time.  Run time configuration is more
convenient for users and makes the configuration process simpler than
getting the information while configuring.  Note: Variables for
Installation Directories, for more
information on where to put data files.