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:
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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