{
    "mode": "man",
    "parameter": "AUTOM4TE",
    "section": "",
    "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/AUTOM4TE/json",
    "generated": "2026-10-22T11:58:50Z",
    "synopsis": "autom4te [OPTION]... [FILES]",
    "sections": {
        "NAME": {
            "content": "autom4te - Generate files and scripts thanks to M4\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "SYNOPSIS": {
            "content": "autom4te [OPTION]... [FILES]\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "DESCRIPTION": {
            "content": "Run  GNU  M4  on  the FILES, avoiding useless runs.  Output the traces if tracing, the frozen\nfile if freezing, otherwise the expansion of the FILES.\n\nIf some of the FILES are named 'FILE.m4f' they are considered to be M4 frozen  files  of  all\nthe  previous  files  (which  are  therefore  not  loaded).  If 'FILE.m4f' is not found, then\n'FILE.m4' will be used, together with all the previous files.\n\nSome files may be optional, i.e., will only be processed if found in the  include  path,  but\nthen must end in '.m4?';  the question mark is not part of the actual file name.\n",
            "subsections": [
                {
                    "name": "Operation modes:",
                    "content": ""
                },
                {
                    "name": "-h --help",
                    "content": "print this help, then exit\n",
                    "flag": "-h",
                    "long": "--help"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-V --version",
                    "content": "print version number, then exit\n",
                    "flag": "-V",
                    "long": "--version"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-v --verbose",
                    "content": "verbosely report processing\n",
                    "flag": "-v",
                    "long": "--verbose"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-d --debug",
                    "content": "don't remove temporary files\n",
                    "flag": "-d",
                    "long": "--debug"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-o --output",
                    "content": "save output in FILE (defaults to '-', stdout)\n",
                    "flag": "-o",
                    "long": "--output"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-f --force",
                    "content": "don't rely on cached values\n",
                    "flag": "-f",
                    "long": "--force"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-W --warnings",
                    "content": "report the warnings falling in CATEGORY\n",
                    "flag": "-W",
                    "long": "--warnings"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-l --language",
                    "content": "specify the set of M4 macros to use\n",
                    "flag": "-l",
                    "long": "--language"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-C --cache",
                    "content": "preserve results for future runs in DIRECTORY\n",
                    "flag": "-C",
                    "long": "--cache"
                },
                {
                    "name": "--no-cache",
                    "content": "disable the cache\n",
                    "long": "--no-cache"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-m --mode",
                    "content": "change the non trace output file mode (0666)\n",
                    "flag": "-m",
                    "long": "--mode"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-M --melt",
                    "content": "don't use M4 frozen files\n",
                    "flag": "-M",
                    "long": "--melt"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Languages include:",
                    "content": "'Autoconf'\ncreate Autoconf configure scripts\n\n'Autotest'\ncreate Autotest test suites\n\n'M4sh' create M4sh shell scripts\n\n'M4sugar'\ncreate M4sugar output\n"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Warning categories include:",
                    "content": "cross  cross compilation issues\n\ngnu    GNU coding standards (default in gnu and gnits modes)\n\nobsolete\nobsolete features or constructions (default)\n\noverride\nuser redefinitions of Automake rules or variables\n\nportability\nportability issues (default in gnu and gnits modes)\n\nportability-recursive\nnested Make variables (default with -Wportability)\n\nextra-portability\nextra portability issues related to obscure tools\n\nsyntax dubious syntactic constructs (default)\n\nunsupported\nunsupported or incomplete features (default)\n\nall    all the warnings\n\nno-CATEGORY\nturn off warnings in CATEGORY\n\nnone   turn off all the warnings\n\nerror  treat warnings as errors\n\nThe environment variables 'M4' and 'WARNINGS' are honored.\n"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Library directories:",
                    "content": ""
                },
                {
                    "name": "-B --prepend-include",
                    "content": "prepend directory DIR to search path\n",
                    "flag": "-B",
                    "long": "--prepend-include"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-I --include",
                    "content": "append directory DIR to search path\n",
                    "flag": "-I",
                    "long": "--include"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Tracing:",
                    "content": ""
                },
                {
                    "name": "-t --trace",
                    "content": "report the MACRO invocations\n",
                    "flag": "-t",
                    "long": "--trace"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-p --preselect",
                    "content": "prepare to trace MACRO in a future run\n",
                    "flag": "-p",
                    "long": "--preselect"
                },
                {
                    "name": "Freezing:",
                    "content": ""
                },
                {
                    "name": "-F --freeze",
                    "content": "produce an M4 frozen state file for FILES\n",
                    "flag": "-F",
                    "long": "--freeze"
                },
                {
                    "name": "FORMAT defaults to '$f:$l:$n:$%', and can use the following escapes:",
                    "content": "$$     literal $\n\n$f     file where macro was called\n\n$l     line where macro was called\n\n$d     nesting depth of macro call\n\n$n     name of the macro\n\n$NUM   argument NUM, unquoted and with newlines\n\n$SEP@  all arguments, with newlines, quoted, and separated by SEP\n\n$SEP*  all arguments, with newlines, unquoted, and separated by SEP\n\n$SEP%  all arguments, without newlines, unquoted, and separated by SEP\n\nSEP  can  be  empty  for the default (comma for @ and *, colon for %), a single character for\nthat character, or {STRING} to use a string.\n"
                }
            ]
        },
        "AUTHOR": {
            "content": "Written by Akim Demaille.\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "REPORTING BUGS": {
            "content": "Report bugs to <bug-autoconf@gnu.org>.\nGNU Autoconf home page: <https://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf/>.\nGeneral help using GNU software: <https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/>.\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "COPYRIGHT": {
            "content": "Copyright © 2021 Free Software Foundation, Inc.  License GPLv3+/Autoconf: GNU GPL  version  3\nor later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>, <https://gnu.org/licenses/exceptions.html>\nThis  is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.  There is NO WARRANTY, to\nthe extent permitted by law.\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "SEE ALSO": {
            "content": "autoconf(1), automake(1),  autoreconf(1),  autoupdate(1),  autoheader(1),  autoscan(1),  con‐\nfig.guess(1), config.sub(1), ifnames(1), libtool(1).\n\nThe  full  documentation for autom4te is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the info and au‐\ntom4te programs are properly installed at your site, the command\n\ninfo autom4te\n\nshould give you access to the complete manual.\n\nGNU Autoconf 2.71                           January 2023                                 AUTOM4TE(1)",
            "subsections": []
        }
    },
    "summary": "autom4te - Generate files and scripts thanks to M4",
    "flags": [
        {
            "flag": "-h",
            "long": "--help",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "print this help, then exit"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-V",
            "long": "--version",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "print version number, then exit"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-v",
            "long": "--verbose",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "verbosely report processing"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-d",
            "long": "--debug",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "don't remove temporary files"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-o",
            "long": "--output",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "save output in FILE (defaults to '-', stdout)"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-f",
            "long": "--force",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "don't rely on cached values"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-W",
            "long": "--warnings",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "report the warnings falling in CATEGORY"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-l",
            "long": "--language",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "specify the set of M4 macros to use"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-C",
            "long": "--cache",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "preserve results for future runs in DIRECTORY"
        },
        {
            "flag": "",
            "long": "--no-cache",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "disable the cache"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-m",
            "long": "--mode",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "change the non trace output file mode (0666)"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-M",
            "long": "--melt",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "don't use M4 frozen files"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-B",
            "long": "--prepend-include",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "prepend directory DIR to search path"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-I",
            "long": "--include",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "append directory DIR to search path"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-t",
            "long": "--trace",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "report the MACRO invocations"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-p",
            "long": "--preselect",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "prepare to trace MACRO in a future run"
        },
        {
            "flag": "-F",
            "long": "--freeze",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "produce an M4 frozen state file for FILES"
        }
    ],
    "examples": [],
    "see_also": [
        {
            "name": "autoconf",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/autoconf/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "automake",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/automake/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "autoreconf",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/autoreconf/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "autoupdate",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/autoupdate/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "autoheader",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/autoheader/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "autoscan",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/autoscan/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "fig.guess",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/fig.guess/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "config.sub",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/config.sub/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "ifnames",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ifnames/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "libtool",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/libtool/1/json"
        }
    ]
}