Obsolete building in source dir?

[Zack Weinberg]

Joe Buck <Joe.Buck@synopsys.COM> writes:

> On Sun, Sep 12, 2004 at 11:07:12PM -0400, DJ Delorie wrote:
>> "Giovanni Bajo" <giovannibajo@libero.it> writes:
>> > Do we still need to support builds in source directory?
>> 
>> Since every other source package on the planet (it seems) supports
>> building in the source directory, gcc should too.  To do otherwise
>> would require an SC decision, as it would make gcc incompatible with
>> everything else.
>
> The SC cannot force people to submit patches to fix the problem;
> building in the source directory has been at least partially broken
> for years.

Could someone remind me what was wrong with the "if configure notices
it's been invoked in the source directory, create a build directory
behind the user's back" idea?  That wouldn't break all the time.

zw