configure.ac:22: error: possibly undefined macro: AC_CHECK_LIB

[govwin]

Proxmox VE 8.1.4 x86_64 Kernel: 6.5.13-1-pve

root@pve:~/dropwatch# ./autogen.sh
+ mkdir -p m4
+ autoreconf -fv --install
autoreconf: export WARNINGS=
autoreconf: Entering directory '.'
autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Gettext
autoreconf: running: aclocal --force -I m4
autoreconf: configure.ac: tracing
autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Libtool
autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Intltool
autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Gtkdoc
autoreconf: running: /usr/bin/autoconf --force
configure.ac:34: warning: AC_OUTPUT should be used without arguments.
configure.ac:34: You should run autoupdate.
configure.ac:18: error: possibly undefined macro: AC_MSG_ERROR
      If this token and others are legitimate, please use m4_pattern_allow.
      See the Autoconf documentation.
configure.ac:22: error: possibly undefined macro: AC_CHECK_LIB
autoreconf: error: /usr/bin/autoconf failed with exit status: 1
root@pve:~/dropwatch#

[nhorman]

you need to install libtool

[govwin]

Now I have installed libtool and intltool but same error:

root@pve:~/dropwatch# ./autogen.sh
+ mkdir -p m4
+ autoreconf -fv --install
autoreconf: export WARNINGS=
autoreconf: Entering directory '.'
autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Gettext
autoreconf: running: aclocal --force -I m4
autoreconf: configure.ac: tracing
autoreconf: running: libtoolize --copy --force
libtoolize: putting auxiliary files in '.'.
libtoolize: copying file './ltmain.sh'
libtoolize: putting macros in AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIRS, 'm4'.
libtoolize: copying file 'm4/libtool.m4'
libtoolize: copying file 'm4/ltoptions.m4'
libtoolize: copying file 'm4/ltsugar.m4'
libtoolize: copying file 'm4/ltversion.m4'
libtoolize: copying file 'm4/lt~obsolete.m4'
autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Intltool
autoreconf: configure.ac: not using Gtkdoc
autoreconf: running: aclocal --force -I m4
autoreconf: running: /usr/bin/autoconf --force
configure.ac:34: warning: AC_OUTPUT should be used without arguments.
configure.ac:34: You should run autoupdate.
configure.ac:18: error: possibly undefined macro: AC_MSG_ERROR
      If this token and others are legitimate, please use m4_pattern_allow.
      See the Autoconf documentation.
configure.ac:22: error: possibly undefined macro: AC_CHECK_LIB
autoreconf: error: /usr/bin/autoconf failed with exit status: 1
root@pve:~/dropwatch#

[nhorman]

what version of autoconf are you using? AC_CHECK_LIB usually required libtool, but its possible you have a version of autoconf that doesn't include the macro at all. It should be installed in the autoconf libdir in libs.m4

[shi0rik0]

I'm using Ubuntu 22.04 and I encountered the same problem. I solved it by installing the pkg-config package.

Ref: https://stackoverflow.com/a/9024469