Compiling C++ program on Fedora

Question

Hi there

I'm having problems compiling an open source C++ project on Fedora. When I download and run the ./configure I eventually end up with....

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checking dynamic linker characteristics... GNU/Linux ld.so
checking how to hardcode library paths into programs... immediate
./configure: line 15513: AX_CFLAGS_WARN_ALL: command not found
./configure: line 15514: AX_CXXFLAGS_WARN_ALL: command not found
checking for flex... flex
checking lex output file root... lex.yy
checking lex library... -lfl
checking whether yytext is a pointer... yes
checking for bison... bison
./configure: line 15784: AX_PROG_GPERF: command not found
checking trace option enabled... no
checking for getrusage... yes
checking time profiling enabled... no
checking poll.h usability... yes
checking poll.h presence... yes
checking for poll.h... yes
checking forcing use of select... no
checking use pipes to communication between scheduler and dispatcher... no
./configure: line 16280: syntax error near unexpected token `1.39.0'
./configure: line 16280: `AX_BOOST_BASE(1.39.0)'

When I compiled the equivilant project in Windows I did need to install and update project references to Boost. I can see that this is related to boost but not sure why I would get a syntax error.

A few other things to note, the original source code in configure and configure.ac had references to boost 1.3.5 with the same compile errors (obviously with 1.3.5 in the error msg).

I have recently installed boost 1.3.9 and updated the source. Also note that when I tried to

 yum install boost

it reports I have 1.3.7 installed and that is the latest version. I did also try 1.3.7 inside the source code but I get the same problem. I just don't get why I would get a syntax error!

this is the code inside configure and configre.ac that throws the error

#BOOST
AX_BOOST_BASE(1.39.0)
AX_BOOST_THREAD

Any thoughts on where to go next would be great.

TIA

G

Answer 1

I can think of several reasons for this to happen. In first place, "Boost" is a very popular framework for C++ programming.

1. The project has a bug(a compile error)
2. You didn't install the dependencies right
3. The project isn't compatible with your distribution. The package on the repository may be outdated, so it is the most recent for Fedora but not the real most recent Boost package. Fedora users will be better fit to say if this is the case.
4. Some of your dependencies were corrupted
5. You didn't follow the instructions right

Answer 2

I think your 'open source project' requires a later version of autoconf/aclocal than the version installed.

'AX_CFLAGS _WARN _ALL', ..., 'AX _BOOST _BASE', are all autoconf macros which would be correctly expanded if you had a newer version of autoconf.