The GNU portability library is a macro system and C declarations and definitions for commonly-used API elements and abstracted system behaviors. It can be used to improve portability and other functionality in your programs.

Options

Operation modes:

--list: print the available module names.
--import: import the given modules into the current package; if no modules are specified, update the current package from the current gnulib.
--update: update the current package, restore files omitted from CVS.
--create-testdir: create a scratch package with the given modules.
--create-megatestdir: create a mega scratch package with the given modules one by one and all together.
--test: test the combination of the given modules (recommended to use CC="gcc -Wall" here).
--megatest: test the given modules one by one and all together (recommended to use CC="gcc -Wall" here).
--extract-description: extract the description.
--extract-filelist: extract the list of files.
--extract-dependencies: extract the dependencies.
--extract-autoconf-snippet: extract the snippet for configure.ac.
--extract-automake-snippet: extract the snippet for lib/Makefile.am.
--extract-include-directive: extract the #include directive.
--extract-license: report the license terms of the source files under lib/.
--extract-maintainer: report the maintainer(s) inside gnulib.
--extract-tests-module: report the unit test module, if it exists.

Options:

--dir=DIRECTORY: specify the target directory. For --import, this specifies where your configure.ac can be found. Defaults to current directory.
--lib=LIBRARY: Specify the library name. Defaults to 'libgnu'.
--source-base=DIRECTORY: Directory relative --dir where source code is placed (default "lib"), for --import.
--m4-base=DIRECTORY: Directory relative --dir where *.m4 macros are placed (default "m4"), for --import.
--tests-base=DIRECTORY: Directory relative --dir where unit tests are placed (default "tests"), for --import.
--aux-dir=DIRECTORY: Directory relative --dir where auxiliary build tools are placed (default "build-aux").
--with-tests: Include unit tests for the included modules.
--avoid=MODULE: Avoid including the given MODULE. Useful if you have code that provides equivalent functionality. This option can be repeated.
--lgpl: Abort if modules aren't available under the LGPL. Also modify license template from GPL to LGPL.
--libtool: Use libtool rules, for --import.
--macro-prefix=PREFIX: Specify the prefix of the macros 'gl_EARLY' and 'gl_INIT'. Default is 'gl'.
--no-changelog: don't update or create ChangeLog files.
--dry-run: For --import, only print what would have been done.
-s, --symbolic, --symlink: Make symbolic links instead of copying files.
-h, --help: Show summary of options.