ax_create_stdint_h

Synopsis

AX_CREATE_STDINT_H [( HEADER-TO-GENERATE [, HEDERS-TO-CHECK])]

Description

the "ISO C9X: 7.18 Integer types <stdint.h>" section requires the existence of an include file <stdint.h> that defines a set of typedefs, especially uint8_t,int32_t,uintptr_t. Many older installations will not provide this file, but some will have the very same definitions in <inttypes.h>. In other environments we can use the inet-types in <sys/types.h> which would define the typedefs int8_t and u_int8_t respectively.

This macros will create a local "_stdint.h" or the headerfile given as an argument. In many cases that file will just "#include <stdint.h>" or "#include <inttypes.h>", while in other environments it will provide the set of basic ’stdint’s definitions/typedefs:

  int8_t,uint8_t,int16_t,uint16_t,int32_t,uint32_t,intptr_t,uintptr_t
  int_least32_t.. int_fast32_t.. intmax_t

which may or may not rely on the definitions of other files, or using the AC_CHECK_SIZEOF macro to determine the actual sizeof each type.

if your header files require the stdint-types you will want to create an installable file mylib-int.h that all your other installable header may include. So if you have a library package named "mylib", just use

  AX_CREATE_STDINT_H(mylib-int.h)

in configure.ac and go to install that very header file in Makefile.am along with the other headers (mylib.h) - and the mylib-specific headers can simply use "#include <mylib-int.h>" to obtain the stdint-types.

Remember, if the system already had a valid <stdint.h>, the generated file will include it directly. No need for fuzzy HAVE_STDINT_H things... (oops, GCC 4.2.x has deliberately disabled its stdint.h for non-c99 compilation and the c99-mode is not the default. Therefore this macro will not use the compiler’s stdint.h - please complain to the GCC developers).

Source Code

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

License

Copyright © 2008 Guido U. Draheim guidod@gmx.de

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.