./configure variations

[Albert]

alex wrote:

> This isn't ubuntu specific but the list seems to have some sharp 
> troubleshooters who probably can get me over this problem.
>
> I occasionally have a problem with installing some untarred files in 
> that ./configure doesn't  work with all of them.  ./configure, by 
> itself,  works fine with some untarred files but occasionlly it seems 
> that something has to be added to ./configure before running 'make' 
> and 'make install'
>
> I have 5 Linux books, searched Linux FAQ-Linux lists and forums,  
> printed out nearly half a ream of downloaded documentation on the 
> subject of installing tarballs and am disappointed in all these 
> because they seem to carefully avoid providing details about running 
> ./configure.  The closest one document comes to details is saying to 
> look for 'readme', 'install', or 'readme.install' files after 
> untarring.  You'd expect to find specific information for the 
> installation in these files but if it's there, it's well disguised.
>
> Does anyone know of any documentation that really explains those 
> special cases where
> ./configure needs a little help?

$ ./configure --help