automake: Strictness

1 
1 3.2 Strictness
1 ==============
1 
1 While Automake is intended to be used by maintainers of GNU packages, it
1 does make some effort to accommodate those who wish to use it, but do
1 not want to use all the GNU conventions.
1 
1    To this end, Automake supports three levels of “strictness”—the
1 strictness indicating how stringently Automake should check standards
1 conformance.
1 
1    The valid strictness levels are:
1 
1 ‘foreign’
1      Automake will check for only those things that are absolutely
1      required for proper operations.  For instance, whereas GNU
1      standards dictate the existence of a ‘NEWS’ file, it will not be
1      required in this mode.  This strictness will also turn off some
1      warnings by default (among them, portability warnings).  The name
1      comes from the fact that Automake is intended to be used for GNU
1      programs; these relaxed rules are not the standard mode of
1      operation.
1 
1 ‘gnu’
1      Automake will check—as much as possible—for compliance to the GNU
1      standards for packages.  This is the default.
1 
1 ‘gnits’
1      Automake will check for compliance to the as-yet-unwritten “Gnits
1      standards”.  These are based on the GNU standards, but are even
1      more detailed.  Unless you are a Gnits standards contributor, it is
1      recommended that you avoid this option until such time as the Gnits
1      standard is actually published (which may never happen).
1 
1    ⇒Gnits, for more information on the precise implications of
1 the strictness level.
1