automake supports three kinds of directory hierarchy: "flat",
"shallow", and "deep".
A flat package is one in which all the files are in a single
directory. The `Makefile.am' for such a package by definition
lacks a SUBDIRS macro. An example of such a package is
termutils.
A deep package is one in which all the source lies in
subdirectories; the top level directory contains mainly configuration
information. GNU cpio is a good example of such a package, as is GNU
tar. The top level `Makefile.am' for a deep package will
contain a SUBDIRS macro, but no other macros to define objects
which are built.
A shallow package is one in which the primary source resides in
the top-level directory, while various parts (typically libraries)
reside in subdirectories. Automake is one such package (as is GNU
make, which does not currently use automake).
Go to the first, previous, next, last section, table of contents.