tools-make/README

GNUstep makefile package
************************

Here is some introductory info to get you started:

What is the GNUstep makefile package?
=====================================

   The makefile package is a simple, powerful and extensible way to
write makefiles for a GNUstep-based project.  It allows the user to
write a project without having to deal with the complex issues
associated with configuration, building, installation, and packaging.
It also allows the user to easily create cross-compiled binaries.

Information
===========

   The file `NEWS' has this packages feature history.

   The files `INSTALL' or `GNUstep-HOWTO' give instructions for
installing the packages. Also see the `machines' documentation and
various machine specific READMEs in the Documentation directory.

   Files in the `Documentation' directory have information on the
design of the Makefile system and how to write your own makefiles that
work with it.

   Note that releases numbers that have an odd minor version (e.g.
1.3.2) are unstable releases. They are not as well tested as stable
releases (e.g. 1.4.1).

License
=======

   The GNUstep libraries are covered under the GNU Lesser Public
License.  This means you can use these libraries in any program (even
non-free programs). If you distribute the libraries along with your
program, you must make the improvements you have made to the libraries
freely available. You should read the COPYING.LIB file for more
information.

   GNUstep tools, test programs, and other files are covered under the
GNU Public License. This means if you make changes to these programs,
you cannot charge a fee, other than distribution fees, for others to
use the program. You should read the COPYING file for more information.

   With GNUstep-Base, we strongly recommend the use of the ffcall
libraries, which provides stack frame handling for NSInvocation and
NSConnection.  "Ffcall is under GNU GPL. As a special exception, if used
in GNUstep or in derivate works of GNUstep, the included parts of ffcall
are under GNU LGPL" (Text in quotes provided by the author of ffcall).

History
=======

   The GNUstep makefile package was designed by Scott Christley
<scottc@net-community.com> and Ovidiu Predescu
<ovidiu@net-community.com>.

   Flags for building shared libraries and bundles on several systems
were originally identified by Mircea Oancea <mircea@pathcom.com>.

   Richard Frith-Macdonald <richard@brainstorm.co.uk> also contributed
with ideas.

   Nicola Pero <nicola@brainstorm.co.uk> rewrote much of the rule
procedures to increase the speed of the package by over a factor of 7.
He also rewrote much of the rest of the system to make it simpler and
more effective.

How can you help?
=================

   * Give us feedback!  Tell us what you like; tell us what you think
     could be better.  Send bug reports to <bug-gnustep@gnu.org>.