[Bug-gnulib] Re: address@hidden: relocatable packages

[Alexandre Duret-Lutz]

>>> "Karl" == Karl Berry <address@hidden> writes:

[...make install building a manifest...]

 Karl> Hmm, seems to me that nothing else has the necessary information.
 Karl> Automake (autoconf?) is what knows what files are getting installed,
 Karl> because it's creating the install targets.  

Automake doesn't have the necessary information.  Think about
custom install rules or even third party subprojects (e.g.,
intl/ & po/) not using Automake.  AFAICT the only way to get the
list of installed files is to make a DESTDIR installation in a
scratch directory, build the manifest, and then make another
installation for real.

 Karl> Is there any harm in having it create a manifest file?

Separation of concerns.  IMHO building such a manifest (not to
mention choosing the place where it is installed and the format
it uses) is a site policy, just like registering the package to
some central database, or using stow.  What's important is
that `make install' doesn't prevent you from doing it.
-- 
Alexandre Duret-Lutz