[xiaoyu2006]

Autotools use M4 to meta-program a bash script that meta-programs a bunch of C(++) sources and generates C(++) sources that utilizes meta-programming for different configurations; after which the meta-programmed script, again, meta-programs monolithic makefiles.

This is peak engineering.

[1718627440]

Yes, that sound ridiculous, but it is that way, so that the user can modify each intermediate step, which is the main selling point. As a user I really prefer that experience, which is why I as a developer put up with the non-sense of M4. (Which I think is more due to M4 being a macro language, then inherent language flaws.)

[krior]

Sounds like a headache. Is there a nice Python lib to generate all this M4-mumbo-jumbo?

[lionkor]

"Sounds complicated. I want it to throw exceptions and have significant whitespace on top of all that complexity!"