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(autoconf.info)Why GNU m4

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Why Require GNU `m4'?
=====================

     Why does Autoconf require GNU `m4'?

   Many `m4' implementations have hard-coded limitations on the size
and number of macros, which Autoconf exceeds.  They also lack several
builtin macros that it would be difficult to get along without in a
sophisticated application like Autoconf, including:

     builtin
     indir
     patsubst
     __file__
     __line__

   Since only software maintainers need to use Autoconf, and since GNU
`m4' is simple to configure and install, it seems reasonable to require
GNU `m4' to be installed also.  Many maintainers of GNU and other free
software already have most of the GNU utilities installed, since they
prefer them.