configure's documentation should mention that setting `--platform` is recommended to get the expected feature set

[mobin-2008]

Currently the documentation about configure doesn't outline that 'platform' is must be set to target platform when cross-compiling otherwise configure would assume 'unknown' platform. This wasn't the case until f760748. I think the warning is not enough because we already have a section for cross-compilation with configure script which we can use to explain this.

[davmac314]

This wasn't the case until f760748

Note that before that, platform was autodetected by running uname on the build system, which means that it potentially was wrong with no warning generated, nor was there any documentation that this would happen. So the change in that commit is strictly an improvement.

In general relying on identification of a "platform" to decide build configuration is anyway wrong - the whole point of a configure script is to automatically configure the build based on available features / necessary build options, not to try and identify from a specific set of platforms.

If you think the documentation needs improvement, I hope you are willing to do it yourself!

[mobin-2008]

This wasn't the case until f760748

Note that before that, platform was autodetected by running uname on the build system, which means that it potentially was wrong with no warning generated, nor was there any documentation that this would happen. So the change in that commit is strictly an improvement.

In general relying on identification of a "platform" to decide build configuration is anyway wrong - the whole point of a configure script is to automatically configure the build based on available features / necessary build options, not to try and identify from a specific set of platforms.

If you think the documentation needs improvement, I hope you are willing to do it yourself!

Yes. I just wanted to know your view on this.

[davmac314]

Yes. I just wanted to know your view on this.

It's fine to add some more to the documentation about this. I just find it strange to single out that commit as the point at which documentation is suddenly required. There was never any documentation about how the platform was determined in the case of cross-compiling before, it just silently chose the build platform, and there was no warning about that.