Porting from Autotools

This page uses AppStream-glib as an example project. AppStream-Glib contains some libraries, GObject Introspection data, tests, man pages, i18n, bash-completion with optional flags to build/not build support for some things.

Meson comes with a helper script ac_converter that you can use to convert the basic autoconf checks for your project.

Configure.ac

First let's look at configure.ac and write the same in meson.build.

AC_PREREQ(2.63)

Meson doesn't provide the same function, so just ignore this.

Defining variables

configure.ac:

m4_define([as_major_version], [0])
m4_define([as_minor_version], [3])
m4_define([as_micro_version], [6])
m4_define([as_version],
 [as_major_version.as_minor_version.as_micro_version])

meson.build:

as_version = meson.project_version() # set in project() below
ver_arr = as_version.split('.')
as_major_version = ver_arr[0]
as_minor_version = ver_arr[1]
as_micro_version = ver_arr[2]

Initializing project and setting compilers

configure.ac:

AC_INIT([appstream-glib],[as_version])
AC_PROG_CC

meson.build:

project('appstream-glib', 'c', version : '0.3.6')

Note that this must be the first line of your meson.build file.

AC_SUBST

configure.ac:

AC_SUBST(AS_MAJOR_VERSION)
AC_SUBST(AS_MINOR_VERSION)
AC_SUBST(AS_MICRO_VERSION)
AC_SUBST(AS_VERSION)

You don't need to do the same in Meson, because it does not have two different types of files (Makefile, configure).

Auto headers

configure.ac:

AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h])

meson.build:

conf = configuration_data()
# Surround the version in quotes to make it a C string
conf.set_quoted('VERSION', as_version)
configure_file(output : 'config.h',
 configuration : conf)

Meson doesn't support autoheaders, you need to manually specify what do you want to see in header file, write configuration_data() object and use configure_file().

You can also substitute variables of type @SOME_VAR@ with configure data. The details are on the configuration page.

Finding programs

configure.ac:

AC_PATH_PROG(GPERF, [gperf], [no])
if test x$GPERF != xno ; then
 AC_DEFINE(HAVE_GPERF,[1], [Use gperf])
fi
AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_GPERF, [test x$GPERF != xno])

meson.build:

gperf = find_program('gperf', required : false)
if gperf.found()
 conf.set('HAVE_GPERF', 1)
endif

Finding pkg-config modules

configure.ac:

PKG_CHECK_MODULES(SOUP, libsoup-2.4 >= 2.24)

meson.build:

soup = dependency('libsoup-2.4', version : '>= 2.24')

Arguments

configure.ac:

AC_ARG_ENABLE(dep11, AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-dep11],[enable DEP-11]),
 enable_dep11=$enableval,enable_dep11=yes)
AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_DEP11, test x$enable_dep11 = xyes)
if test x$enable_dep11 = xyes; then
 AC_CHECK_HEADER(yaml.h, [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([No yaml.h])])
 YAML_LIBS="-lyaml"
 AC_SUBST(YAML_LIBS)
 AC_DEFINE(AS_BUILD_DEP11,1,[Build DEP-11 code])
fi

meson.build:

if get_option('enable-dep11')
 yaml = dependency('yaml-0.1')
 conf.set('AS_BUILD_DEP11', 1)
else
 yaml = dependency('yaml-0.1', required : false)
endif

meson.options:

option('enable-dep11', type : 'boolean', value : true, description : 'enable DEP-11')

Makefile.am

Next step is Makefile.am. In Meson you don't need to have other file, you still use meson.build.

Sub directories

Makefile.am:

SUBDIRS = \
 libappstream-glib

meson.build:

subdir('libappstream-glib')

*CLEANFILES, EXTRA_DIST, etc.

Makefile.am:

DISTCLEANFILES = \
 appstream-glib-*.tar.xz
MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = \
 *~ \
 ABOUT-NLS \
 aclocal.m4 \
 ChangeLog \
 compile \
 config.guess \
 config.h.* \
 config.rpath
EXTRA_DIST = \
 COPYING \
 MAINTAINERS \
 AUTHORS \
 README.md \
 NEWS \
 autogen.sh \
 config.h

In Meson you don't need have *CLEANFILES, because in Meson you are building in temporary directory (usually called build), you manually removing it. You also not need to use EXTRA_DIST, because you will make tarballs via git archive or something like this.

glib-compile-resources

Makefile.am:

as-resources.c: appstream-glib.gresource.xml \
 as-stock-icons.txt \
 as-license-ids.txt \
 as-blacklist-ids.txt \
 as-category-ids.txt \
 as-environment-ids.txt
 $(AM_V_GEN) \
 glib-compile-resources \
 --sourcedir=$(srcdir) \
 --sourcedir=$(top_builddir)/data \
 --target=$@ \
 --generate-source \
 --c-name as \
 $(srcdir)/appstream-glib.gresource.xml
as-resources.h: appstream-glib.gresource.xml \
 as-stock-icons.txt \
 as-license-ids.txt \
 as-blacklist-ids.txt \
 as-category-ids.txt \
 as-environment-ids.txt
 $(AM_V_GEN) \
 glib-compile-resources \
 --sourcedir=$(srcdir) \
 --sourcedir=$(top_builddir)/data \
 --target=$@ \
 --generate-header \
 --c-name as \
 $(srcdir)/appstream-glib.gresource.xml
BUILT_SOURCES = \
 as-resources.c \
 as-resources.h

meson.build:

asresources = gnome.compile_resources(
 'as-resources', 'appstream-glib.gresource.xml',
 source_dir : '.',
 c_name : 'as')

Headers

Makefile.am:

libappstream_glib_includedir = $(includedir)/libappstream-glib
libappstream_glib_include_HEADERS = \
 appstream-glib.h \
 as-app.h \
 as-bundle.h \
 as-enums.h \
 as-icon.h \
 as-image.h \
 as-inf.h \
 as-node.h \
 as-problem.h \
 as-provide.h \
 as-release.h \
 as-screenshot.h \
 as-store.h \
 as-tag.h \
 as-utils.h \
 as-version.h

meson.build:

headers = [
 'appstream-glib.h',
 'as-app.h',
 'as-bundle.h',
 'as-enums.h',
 'as-icon.h',
 'as-image.h',
 'as-inf.h',
 'as-node.h',
 'as-problem.h',
 'as-provide.h',
 'as-release.h',
 'as-screenshot.h',
 'as-store.h',
 'as-tag.h',
 'as-utils.h',
 'as-version.h']
install_headers(headers, subdir : 'libappstream-glib')

Libraries

Makefile.am:

lib_LTLIBRARIES = \
 libappstream-glib.la
libappstream_glib_la_SOURCES = \
 as-app.c \
 as-app-desktop.c \
 as-app-inf.c \
 as-app-private.h \
 as-app-validate.c \
 as-bundle.c \
 as-bundle-private.h \
 as-cleanup.h \
 as-enums.c \
 as-icon.c \
 as-icon-private.h \
 as-image.c \
 as-image-private.h \
 as-inf.c \
 as-inf.h \
 as-node.c \
 as-node-private.h \
 as-problem.c \
 as-problem.h \
 as-provide.c \
 as-provide-private.h \
 as-release.c \
 as-release-private.h \
 as-resources.c \
 as-resources.h \
 as-screenshot.c \
 as-screenshot-private.h \
 as-store.c \
 as-tag.c \
 as-utils.c \
 as-utils-private.h \
 as-version.h \
 as-yaml.c \
 as-yaml.h
libappstream_glib_la_LIBADD = \
 $(GLIB_LIBS) \
 $(GDKPIXBUF_LIBS) \
 $(LIBARCHIVE_LIBS) \
 $(SOUP_LIBS) \
 $(YAML_LIBS)
libappstream_glib_la_LDFLAGS = \
 -version-info $(LT_CURRENT):$(LT_REVISION):$(LT_AGE) \
 -export-dynamic \
 -no-undefined \
 -export-symbols-regex '^as_.*'

meson.build:

sources = [
 'as-app.c',
 'as-app-desktop.c',
 'as-app-inf.c',
 'as-app-private.h',
 'as-app-validate.c',
 'as-bundle.c',
 'as-bundle-private.h',
 'as-cleanup.h',
 'as-enums.c',
 'as-icon.c',
 'as-icon-private.h',
 'as-image.c',
 'as-image-private.h',
 'as-inf.c',
 'as-inf.h',
 'as-node.c',
 'as-node-private.h',
 'as-problem.c',
 'as-problem.h',
 'as-provide.c',
 'as-provide-private.h',
 'as-release.c',
 'as-release-private.h',
 asresources,
 'as-screenshot.c',
 'as-screenshot-private.h',
 'as-store.c',
 'as-tag.c',
 'as-utils.c',
 'as-utils-private.h',
 'as-version.h',
 'as-yaml.c',
 'as-yaml.h']
deps = [glib, gdkpixbuf, libarchive, soup, yaml]
mapfile = 'appstream-glib.map'
vflag = '-Wl,--version-script,@0@/@1@'.format(meson.current_source_dir(), mapfile)
asglib = shared_library(
 'appstream-glib', sources,
 soversion : lt_current,
 version : lt_version,
 dependencies : deps,
 include_directories : include_directories('@0@/..'.format(meson.current_build_dir())),
 link_args : ['-Wl,--no-undefined', vflag],
 link_depends : mapfile,
 install : true)

appstream-glib.map:

{
global:
 as_*;
local:
 *;
};

Custom targets

Makefile.am:

if HAVE_GPERF
as-tag-private.h: as-tag.gperf
 $(AM_V_GEN) gperf < $< > $@
libappstream_glib_la_SOURCES += as-tag-private.h
BUILT_SOURCES += as-tag-private.h
endif

meson.build:

if gperf.found()
 astagpriv = custom_target('gperf as-tag',
 output : 'as-tag-private.h',
 input : 'as-tag.gperf',
 command : [gperf, '@INPUT@', '--output-file', '@OUTPUT@'])
 sources = sources + [astagpriv]
endif

Global CFLAGS

Makefile.am:

AM_CPPFLAGS = \
 -DAS_COMPILATION \
 -DLOCALSTATEDIR=\""$(localstatedir)"\" \
 -DG_LOG_DOMAIN=\"As\"

meson.build:

add_project_arguments('-DG_LOG_DOMAIN="As"', language : 'c')
add_project_arguments('-DAS_COMPILATION', language : 'c')
add_project_arguments('-DLOCALSTATEDIR="/var"', language : 'c')

Tests

Makefile.am:

check_PROGRAMS = \
 as-self-test
as_self_test_SOURCES = \
 as-self-test.c
as_self_test_LDADD = \
 $(GLIB_LIBS) \
 $(GDKPIXBUF_LIBS) \
 $(LIBARCHIVE_LIBS) \
 $(SOUP_LIBS) \
 $(YAML_LIBS) \
 $(lib_LTLIBRARIES)
as_self_test_CFLAGS = -DTESTDATADIR=\""$(top_srcdir)/data/tests"\"
TESTS = as-self-test

meson.build:

selftest = executable(
 'as-self-test', 'as-self-test.c',
 include_directories : include_directories('@0@/..'.format(meson.current_build_dir())),
 dependencies : deps,
 c_args : '-DTESTDATADIR="@0@/../data/tests"'.format(meson.current_source_dir()),
 link_with : asglib)
test('as-self-test', selftest)

GObject Introspection

Makefile.am:

introspection_sources = \
 as-app.c \
 as-app-validate.c \
 as-app.h \
 as-bundle.c \
 as-bundle.h \
 as-enums.c \
 as-enums.h \
 as-icon.c \
 as-icon.h \
 as-image.c \
 as-image.h \
 as-inf.c \
 as-inf.h \
 as-node.c \
 as-node.h \
 as-problem.c \
 as-problem.h \
 as-provide.c \
 as-provide.h \
 as-release.c \
 as-release.h \
 as-screenshot.c \
 as-screenshot.h \
 as-store.c \
 as-store.h \
 as-tag.c \
 as-tag.h \
 as-utils.c \
 as-utils.h \
 as-version.h
AppStreamGlib-1.0.gir: libappstream-glib.la
AppStreamGlib_1_0_gir_INCLUDES = GObject-2.0 Gio-2.0 GdkPixbuf-2.0
AppStreamGlib_1_0_gir_CFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS)
AppStreamGlib_1_0_gir_SCANNERFLAGS = --identifier-prefix=As \
 --symbol-prefix=as_ \
 --warn-all \
 --add-include-path=$(srcdir)
AppStreamGlib_1_0_gir_EXPORT_PACKAGES = appstream-glib
AppStreamGlib_1_0_gir_LIBS = libappstream-glib.la
AppStreamGlib_1_0_gir_FILES = $(introspection_sources)
INTROSPECTION_GIRS += AppStreamGlib-1.0.gir
girdir = $(datadir)/gir-1.0
gir_DATA = $(INTROSPECTION_GIRS)
typelibdir = $(libdir)/girepository-1.0
typelib_DATA = $(INTROSPECTION_GIRS:.gir=.typelib)
CLEANFILES += $(gir_DATA) $(typelib_DATA)

meson.build:

introspection_sources = [
 'as-app.c',
 'as-app-validate.c',
 'as-app.h',
 'as-bundle.c',
 'as-bundle.h',
 'as-enums.c',
 'as-enums.h',
 'as-icon.c',
 'as-icon.h',
 'as-image.c',
 'as-image.h',
 'as-inf.c',
 'as-inf.h',
 'as-node.c',
 'as-node.h',
 'as-problem.c',
 'as-problem.h',
 'as-provide.c',
 'as-provide.h',
 'as-release.c',
 'as-release.h',
 'as-screenshot.c',
 'as-screenshot.h',
 'as-store.c',
 'as-store.h',
 'as-tag.c',
 'as-tag.h',
 'as-utils.c',
 'as-utils.h',
 'as-version.h']
gnome.generate_gir(asglib,
 sources : introspection_sources,
 nsversion : '1.0',
 namespace : 'AppStreamGlib',
 symbol_prefix : 'as_',
 identifier_prefix : 'As',
 export_packages : 'appstream-glib',
 includes : ['GObject-2.0', 'Gio-2.0', 'GdkPixbuf-2.0'],
 install : true
)

GSettings

configure.ac:

GLIB_GSETTINGS

Makefile.am:

gsettings_SCHEMAS = foo.gschema.xml
@GSETTINGS_RULES@

meson.build:

install_data('foo.gschema.xml', install_dir: get_option('datadir') / 'glib-2.0' / 'schemas')
meson.add_install_script('meson_post_install.py')

meson_post_install.py:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import os
import subprocess
schemadir = os.path.join(os.environ['MESON_INSTALL_PREFIX'], 'share', 'glib-2.0', 'schemas')
if not os.environ.get('DESTDIR'):
 print('Compiling gsettings schemas...')
 subprocess.call(['glib-compile-schemas', schemadir])

gettext

Note this example does not include intltool usage.

configure.ac:

AM_GNU_GETTEXT([external])
AM_GNU_GETTEXT_VERSION([0.19.7])
GETTEXT_PACKAGE=foo
AC_SUBST(GETTEXT_PACKAGE)
AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(GETTEXT_PACKAGE, "$GETTEXT_PACKAGE", [The prefix for our gettext translation domains.])

po/Makevars:

XGETTEXT_OPTIONS = --from-code=UTF-8 --keyword=_ --keyword=N_ --keyword=C_:1c,2 --keyword=NC_:1c,2 --keyword=g_dngettext:2,3 --add-comments

Makefile.am:

%.desktop: %.desktop.in
 $(AM_V_GEN)$(MSGFMT) --desktop --template $< -d $(top_srcdir)/po -o $@
%.appdata.xml: %.appdata.xml.in
 $(AM_V_GEN)$(MSGFMT) --xml --template $< -d $(top_srcdir)/po -o $@

meson.build:

i18n = import('i18n')
gettext_package = 'foo'
add_project_arguments('-DGETTEXT_PACKAGE=' + gettext_package, language: 'c')
subdir('po')
i18n.merge_file(
 input: 'foo.desktop.in',
 output: 'foo.desktop',
 type: 'desktop',
 po_dir: 'po',
 install: true,
 install_dir: get_option('datadir') / 'applications'
)
i18n.merge_file(
 input: 'foo.appdata.xml.in',
 output: 'foo.appdata.xml',
 po_dir: 'po',
 install: true,
 install_dir: get_option('datadir') / 'appdata'
)

po/meson.build:

i18n.gettext(gettext_package, preset: 'glib')

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