ax_lib_readline (Autoconf Archive)

ax_lib_readline

Synopsis

AX_LIB_READLINE

Description

Searches for a readline compatible library. If found, defines ‘HAVE_LIBREADLINE’. If the found library has the ‘add_history’ function, sets also ‘HAVE_READLINE_HISTORY’. Also checks for the locations of the necessary include files and sets ‘HAVE_READLINE_H’ or ‘HAVE_READLINE_READLINE_H’ and ‘HAVE_READLINE_HISTORY_H’ or ’HAVE_HISTORY_H’ if the corresponding include files exists.

The libraries that may be readline compatible are ‘libedit’, ‘libeditline’ and ‘libreadline’. Sometimes we need to link a termcap library for readline to work, this macro tests these cases too by trying to link with ‘libtermcap’, ‘libcurses’ or ‘libncurses’ before giving up.

Here is an example of how to use the information provided by this macro to perform the necessary includes or declarations in a C file:

  #ifdef HAVE_LIBREADLINE
  #  if defined(HAVE_READLINE_READLINE_H)
  #    include <readline/readline.h>
  #  elif defined(HAVE_READLINE_H)
  #    include <readline.h>
  #  else /* !defined(HAVE_READLINE_H) */
  extern char *readline ();
  #  endif /* !defined(HAVE_READLINE_H) */
  char *cmdline = NULL;
  #else /* !defined(HAVE_READLINE_READLINE_H) */
    /* no readline */
  #endif /* HAVE_LIBREADLINE */

  #ifdef HAVE_READLINE_HISTORY
  #  if defined(HAVE_READLINE_HISTORY_H)
  #    include <readline/history.h>
  #  elif defined(HAVE_HISTORY_H)
  #    include <history.h>
  #  else /* !defined(HAVE_HISTORY_H) */
  extern void add_history ();
  extern int write_history ();
  extern int read_history ();
  #  endif /* defined(HAVE_READLINE_HISTORY_H) */
    /* no history */
  #endif /* HAVE_READLINE_HISTORY */

Source Code

Download the latest version of ax_lib_readline.m4 or browse the macro’s revision history.

License

Copying and distribution of this file, with or without modification, are permitted in any medium without royalty provided the copyright notice and this notice are preserved. This file is offered as-is, without any warranty.