./configure variations

[alex]

I

>./configure means "run the configure in the current directory", so each
>./configure you run is different.  Some may have been generated by the
>standard Gnu tools, others may be hand-crafted or even malicious.  You
>would need to check with the person who created the package or tar file.
>
>--Mike Bird
>
>  
>
Why would anyone post a tar file without giving specific instructions 
about using ./configure if special options are required?   

alex