[debhelper-devel] `dh --with autotools_dev` and `dh_update_autotools_config`

[Lukas Schwaighofer]

Hi autotools-dev maintainer, debhelper developers and dh-autoreconf
maintainer,

I was a bit confused with the current situation regarding autoreconf,
updating config.{sub,guess} files and the autotools-dev package.  I'd
like to help improving the situation for newcomers like me, but first I
want to make sure I actually understand it correctly.  (The
dh-autoreconf package isn't directly involved, except for the man page.)


As far as I can tell, the `dh_update_autotools_config` command from
debhelper (>= 9.20160115) always regenerates config.{sub,guess}.
Therefore, with a recent enough version of debhelper, the dh module and
debhelper commands supplied by the autotools-dev package are no longer
necessary.  Is that correct, or are there still any situations where
`dh --with autotools_dev` is required?  And is there consensus
that `dh_update_autotools_config` should supersede the debhelper/dh
related functionality provided by autotools-dev?


Would it make sense to start phasing out the debhelper support provided
by the autotools-dev package?  Or at least update the
dh_autotools-dev_*, dh_update_autotools_config and dh-autoreconf man
pages to explain the current situation correctly?  If you want I can
open bug reports with suggestions for the man pages.

Thanks & regards
Lukas
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