---
name: "autoreconf-dickey"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "autoconf-dickey"
version: "2.52+20250126-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/autoreconf-dickey"
---

# autoreconf-dickey(1)

Update generated configuration files

## NAME

autoreconf - Update generated configuration files

## SYNOPSIS

**autoreconf** \[*OPTION*\] ... \[*TEMPLATE-FILE*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Run \`autoconf' and \`autoheader' where appropriate) repeatedly to remake the Autoconf \`configure' scripts and configuration header templates in the directory tree rooted at the current directory.

By default, it only remakes those files that are older than their predecessors.  If you install a new version of Autoconf, running \`autoreconf' remakes all of the files by giving it the \`--force' option.

### Operation modes:

- **-h**, **--help**

  print this help, then exit

- **-V**, **--version**

  print version number, then exit

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  verbosely report processing

- **-d**, **--debug**

  don't remove temporary files

- **-f**, **--force**

  consider every files are obsolete

- **-i**, **--install**

  copy missing auxiliary files

- **-s**, **--symlink**

  instead of copying, install symbolic links

The option \`--install' is similar to the option \`--add-missing' in other tools.

### Library directories:

- **-A**, **--autoconf-dir**=*ACDIR*

  Autoconf's macro files location (rarely needed)

- **-l**, **--localdir**=*DIR*

  location of \`aclocal.m4' and \`acconfig.h'

- **-M**, **--m4dir**=*M4DIR*

  this package's Autoconf extensions

Unless specified, heuristics try to compute \`M4DIR' from the \`Makefile.am', or defaults to \`m4' if it exists.

The environment variables AUTOCONF and AUTOHEADER are honored.

## AUTHOR

Written by David J. MacKenzie.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<dickey@invisible-island.net\>.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright 1994, 1999, 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.\
 This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

## SEE ALSO

[**autoconf**(1)](/autoconf/1.md), [**autoreconf**(1)](/autoreconf/1.md), [**autoupdate**(1)](/autoupdate/1.md), [**autoheader**(1)](/autoheader/1.md), [**autoscan**(1)](/autoscan/1.md), [**config.guess**(1)](/config.guess/1.md), [**config.sub**(1)](/config.sub/1.md), [**ifnames**(1)](/ifnames/1.md), [**libtool**(1)](/libtool/1.md).

The full documentation for **autoreconf** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **autoreconf** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info autoreconf**

should give you access to the complete manual.