AX_PROG_CP_S
Check how to make a copy by creating a symbolic link to the original - it defines the variable CP_S for further use, which you should in fact treat like it used to be with be LN_S. The actual value is assured to be either LN_S (if the filesystem supports symbolic links) or CP (if the filesystem does not know about symbolic links and you need a copy of original file to have the same text in both places). In a gnu environment it will simply set CP_S="cp -s" since the gnu "cp"-command has the "-s" flag. You shall not try to use this command on directories since it would require a "-r" in the case of a copy that is not supported explicitly here. (I’m not sure if some "cp"-commands out there would barf at usage of "-r" on a normal file).
Use CP_S to create a copy of read-only data - if your filesystem supports it then a symbolic link is created - a process that is quicker and space-saving. However, if the target fs does not support symbolic links, just copy the data. Unlike ac_prog_ln_s this macro will never fail to set the CP_S ac_subst to something that works.
Download the latest version of ax_prog_cp_s.m4 or browse the macro’s revision history.
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.