Using Debian tools for building g++

Question

I would like to rebuild g++ with my own specific settings.

Here is what I did so far:

sudo aptitude install build-dep g++-4.2
mkdir trial && cd trial
apt-get source g++-4.2

Now I want to configure my specific settings. For g++ this is normally done by e.g.

sh configure --prefix=/home/voku/non-productive

But unfortunately I cannot find a configure or configure.ac script inside the download directory.

What I am actually looking for is a way to say:

• get the source
• apply all the needed patches
• become ready to build - but do not build

Are there additional steps that I need to get the configure script?

EDIT: Probably I could run one of the tools that actually create the .deb package for g++.

Afterwards - that's what I assume - there will be the needed configure script.

But that sounds awful:

• build the g++ .deb package
• cleanup the whole stuff again
• then use the generated configure script with my own options
• then build again

Answer 1

As always, read the INSTALL file to learn what steps you must take in order to build the code.

Answer 2

Many of Debian's source packages are special packages that build .deb files, which should be built using dpkg-buildpackage. Cf. Apt Howto: Working with source packages.