Information for developers on UNIX/Linux
----------------------------------------

It is recommended that all developers now use the cmake build system instead 
of the autotools build system described below. The latest instructions for 
building PLplot with cmake can be found on the PLplot wiki.

http://www.miscdebris.net/plplot_wiki








When you check out the PLplot source tree from CVS, you will need
to build the ./configure script mentioned in the INSTALL file 
yourself. Basically, this is done with the cf/bootstrap.sh script:

  > cf/bootstrap.sh

This will invoke the GNU autotools:

   * automake, version 1.8.2 or higher is required
  
   * autoconf, version 2.59 (*** earlier versions may work too)

   * libtool, version 1.5.10 (*** earlier versions may work too)


Three situations can occur:

Situation 1: 
If the proper versions are installed and the installation is correct,
then the end result will be a ./configure file in the Plplot 
directory.

You can then follow the instructions in the INSTALL file.


Situation 2:
If error messages occur and no ./configure file is created, then:

   * Install the latest versions of the autotools

   * Make sure no caching information is left behind (notably the
     autom4te.cache directory). One way to do that is to check
     out PLplot in a new directory - tracing all cache files is
     cumbersome.

   * Re-run the cf/bootstrap.sh script


Situation 3:
If the script complains about certain macros, like AM_PROG_LIBTOOL, then 
you may have a somewhat broken installation of the autotools, especially
of libtool. One way to force the autotools to take a look at the correct
macros, is:

   * Look for the version of "aclocal.m4" in the libtool directory

   * Specify that directory to the bootstrap script:

     > cf/bootstrap.sh --aclocal-incdir=/that/particular/directory

This ought to work. If not, try re-installing the autotools.