(autoconf.info)Why GNU m4

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12.2 Why Require GNU 'm4'?
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     Why does Autoconf require GNU 'm4'?

   Many 'm4' implementations have hard-coded limitations on the size and
number of macros, which Autoconf exceeds.  They also lack several
builtin macros that it would be difficult to get along without in a
sophisticated application like Autoconf, including:

     builtin
     indir
     patsubst
     __file__
     __line__

   Since only software maintainers need to use Autoconf, and since GNU
'm4' is simple to configure and install, it seems reasonable to require
GNU 'm4' to be installed also.  Many maintainers of GNU and other free
software already have most of the GNU utilities installed, since they
prefer them.