[geos-devel] RFC7: Discontinue use of autotools

[Roger Bivand]

In so far as geos-config and geos.pc are generated in forms that autotools 
can use (R packages use autotools to configure the use of external 
libraries), the main problem is simply that I don't use Cmake, and have 
never felt confident when obliged to use it. Unless forced, I really 
prefer not to have to, and as I retire soon, I think I shouldn't begin 
life as a pensioner by having to learn enough Cmake to be able to build 
GEOS (nothing else I build regularly uses Cmake).

Probably part of the problem is the ./autogen.sh step, which most other 
libraries do not impose, however, the RFC does not mention this.

My feeling is that my interest in tracking developments in GEOS (on behalf 
of the R spatial cluster of packages, about 950 at last count) before a 
release process is triggered will weaken sharply if I have to learn Cmake, 
used for nothing else.

The RFC mentions the preferences of commmitters; this is wrong-headed, 
because the actually useful feedback comes from those in R/Python/etc. who 
may be able to find regressions, but who will stop testing before release 
if building from the repo or from source in general gets harder. Then you 
risk making releases which cause havoc downstream, because you are making 
it harder for people like me to build from source.  What the committers 
prefer will decide this, but it isn't wise.

Roger


-- 
Roger Bivand
Department of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics,
Helleveien 30, N-5045 Bergen, Norway.
voice: +47 55 95 93 55; e-mail: Roger.Bivand at nhh.no
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2392-6140
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