#1135919 erlang: FTBFS with autoconf 2.73

Package:
src:erlang
Source:
src:erlang
Submitter:
Santiago Vila
Date:
2026-05-17 13:12:01 UTC
Severity:
normal
Tags:
#1135919#5
Date:
2026-05-07 10:11:43 UTC
From:
To:
Dear maintainer:

During a rebuild of all packages in unstable using autoconf 2.73
(available in experimental), this package failed to build.

Below you will find the last part of the build log (probably the most
relevant part, but not necessarily). If required, the full build log
is available here:

https://people.debian.org/~sanvila/build-logs/autoconf-2.73/

This bug will be raised to serious once autoconf 2.73 is uploaded for unstable.

Thanks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[...]
 debian/rules clean
dh_testdir
dh_testroot
#
[ ! -f Makefile ] || /usr/bin/make -j 2 clean
#
# Remove installed erlang from debian/
rm -rvf debian/erlang-docs
#
# Restore replaced configure, config.guess, and config.sub files
for i in `find /<<PKGBUILDDIR>> -regex '.*config\(ure\|\.guess\|\.sub\)~'` ; do \
    mv -v $i ${i%%\~} ; \
done
#
# Remove files, which were generated from templates
rm -vf debian/erlang-base.links debian/erlang-common-test.links debian/erlang-diameter.links debian/erlang-edoc.links debian/erlang-jinterface.links debian/erlang-mode.install debian/erlang-observer.links debian/erlang-snmp.links debian/scripts/erlang-depends
#
# *.install were also generated on-the-fly
rm -vf debian/*.install
rm -vf debian/erlang-doc.links
#
rm -vf debian/AUTHORS
#
# Remove touched stamp files
rm -vf *-stamp
#
dh_clean -Xtest.erl.orig
 debian/rules binary
dh_testdir
#
# Return error if there are known nonfree docs in upstream tarball
# Return error if there are prebuilt binaries in upstream tarball
err=0 ; \
for fn in `find lib/*/doc -name standard -or -name archive` ; do \
    err=1 ; \
    echo Found directory $fn with non-free docs in upstream. Please remove it. ; \
done ; \
if [ -f prebuilt.files ] ; then \
    err=1 ; \
    echo Found prebuilt binaries in upstream. Please remove them. ; \
fi ; \
if [ $err = 1 ] ; then \
    echo ; \
    echo Use uscan --download to get the upstream tarball. ; \
    echo ; \
    false ; \
fi
#
# Preserve configure scripts
for i in `find /<<PKGBUILDDIR>> -not \( -wholename '*/.pc' -prune \) \
			    -a -name 'configure'` ; do \
    cp -vf $i $i~ ; \
done
'/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/erts/configure' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/erts/configure~'
'/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/megaco/configure' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/megaco/configure~'
'/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/odbc/configure' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/odbc/configure~'
'/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/common_test/configure' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/common_test/configure~'
'/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/common_test/test_server/configure' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/common_test/test_server/configure~'
'/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/erl_interface/configure' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/erl_interface/configure~'
'/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/snmp/configure' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/snmp/configure~'
'/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/wx/configure' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/wx/configure~'
'/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/crypto/configure' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/crypto/configure~'
'/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/configure' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/configure~'
'/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/make/configure' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/make/configure~'
#
# Replace config.guess and config.sub by installed in /usr/share/misc.
for i in `find /<<PKGBUILDDIR>> -not \( -wholename '*/.pc' -prune \) \
			    -a -name 'config.guess'` ; do \
    cp -vfb /usr/share/misc/config.guess $i ; \
done
'/usr/share/misc/config.guess' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/erts/autoconf/config.guess' (backup: '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/erts/autoconf/config.guess~')
'/usr/share/misc/config.guess' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/common_test/test_server/config.guess' (backup: '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/common_test/test_server/config.guess~')
'/usr/share/misc/config.guess' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/make/autoconf/config.guess' (backup: '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/make/autoconf/config.guess~')
for i in `find /<<PKGBUILDDIR>> -not \( -wholename '*/.pc' -prune \) \
			    -a -name 'config.sub'` ; do \
    cp -vfb /usr/share/misc/config.sub $i ; \
done
'/usr/share/misc/config.sub' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/erts/autoconf/config.sub' (backup: '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/erts/autoconf/config.sub~')
'/usr/share/misc/config.sub' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/common_test/test_server/config.sub' (backup: '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/lib/common_test/test_server/config.sub~')
'/usr/share/misc/config.sub' -> '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/make/autoconf/config.sub' (backup: '/<<PKGBUILDDIR>>/make/autoconf/config.sub~')
#
# Regenerate configure scripts using autoconf
./otp_build update_configure --no-commit
ERROR: autoconf of version 2.73 found in path! You need to have autoconf of version 2.72 in path.
make: *** [debian/rules:187: automake-stamp] Error 1
dpkg-buildpackage: error: debian/rules binary subprocess failed with exit status 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#1135919#10
Date:
2026-05-07 11:06:17 UTC
From:
To:
We believe that the bug you reported is fixed in the latest version of
erlang, which is due to be installed in the Debian FTP archive.

A summary of the changes between this version and the previous one is
attached.

Thank you for reporting the bug, which will now be closed.  If you
have further comments please address them to 1135919@bugs.debian.org,
and the maintainer will reopen the bug report if appropriate.

Debian distribution maintenance software
pp.
Sergei Golovan <sgolovan@debian.org> (supplier of updated erlang package)

(This message was generated automatically at their request; if you
believe that there is a problem with it please contact the archive
administrators by mailing ftpmaster@ftp-master.debian.org)
Format: 1.8
Date: Thu, 07 May 2026 13:24:04 +0300
Source: erlang
Architecture: source
Version: 1:29.0~rc3+dfsg-3
Distribution: experimental
Urgency: medium
Maintainer: Debian Erlang Packagers <pkg-erlang-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org>
Changed-By: Sergei Golovan <sgolovan@debian.org>
Closes: 1045018 1135919
Changes:
 erlang (1:29.0~rc3+dfsg-3) experimental; urgency=medium
 .
   * Fix stopping/starting services depending on Erlang in erlang-base
     prerm/postinst maintainer scripts.
   * Compress manpages in the erlang-doc package.
   * Do more thorough cleanup after building the package (closes: #1045018).
   * Use autoconf 2.73 to rebuild the configure scripts (closes: #1135919).
Checksums-Sha1:
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 a453b29bea0cb24d6c3c6b96b2aae77aa076127e 30247 erlang_29.0~rc3+dfsg-3_amd64.buildinfo
Checksums-Sha256:
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 5bb646e81df56f6bec360b5015c627f3adf5291ba93cbc9e0b04ebf390627536 30247 erlang_29.0~rc3+dfsg-3_amd64.buildinfo
Files:
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#1135919#15
Date:
2026-05-17 10:03:10 UTC
From:
To:
severity 1135919 serious
thanks

Hi. This is now happening in unstable because autoconf 2.73 has been
uploaded for unstable a few days ago.

Could you please make an upload of erlang for unstable?

Thanks.
#1135919#22
Date:
2026-05-17 11:07:07 UTC
From:
To:
Hi Santiago,

Currently, I'm waiting for Erlang 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-3 to migrate to testing to
fix https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1135630 (otherwise
Erlang and every package depending on it will be removed from testing,
I wouldn't like that). There is only one autopkgtest left for this migration:
https://qa.debian.org/excuses.php?package=erlang, hopefully it'll happen
soon. After that I'll immediately upload the fix for autoconf 2.73.

Currently, migration delays are very long, CI is overloaded because of the
loong64 addition to testing, another upload now will cause another two week
migration delay or worse, I wouldn't like to risk it.

Cheers!
#1135919#27
Date:
2026-05-17 13:00:50 UTC
From:
To:
found 1135919 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-1
thanks

Hmm, I've just realized that such migration will probably not happen
as far as the BTS believes that unstable version is affected but
testing version is not.

So, the above command should make this message to disappear:

∙ ∙ Updating erlang would introduce bugs in testing: #1135919

and hopefully this message will be taken in account for the migration:

∙ ∙ Updating erlang will fix bugs in testing: #1135630

Thanks.
#1135919#34
Date:
2026-05-17 13:05:13 UTC
From:
To:
We believe that the bug you reported is fixed in the latest version of
erlang, which is due to be installed in the Debian FTP archive.

A summary of the changes between this version and the previous one is
attached.

Thank you for reporting the bug, which will now be closed.  If you
have further comments please address them to 1135919@bugs.debian.org,
and the maintainer will reopen the bug report if appropriate.

Debian distribution maintenance software
pp.
Sergei Golovan <sgolovan@debian.org> (supplier of updated erlang package)

(This message was generated automatically at their request; if you
believe that there is a problem with it please contact the archive
administrators by mailing ftpmaster@ftp-master.debian.org)
Format: 1.8
Date: Sun, 17 May 2026 15:22:41 +0300
Source: erlang
Architecture: source
Version: 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-4
Distribution: unstable
Urgency: medium
Maintainer: Debian Erlang Packagers <pkg-erlang-devel@lists.alioth.debian.org>
Changed-By: Sergei Golovan <sgolovan@debian.org>
Closes: 1135919
Changes:
 erlang (1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-4) unstable; urgency=medium
 .
   * Use autoconf >=2.72 to rebuild the configure scripts (closes: #1135919).
Checksums-Sha1:
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Checksums-Sha256:
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#1135919#39
Date:
2026-05-17 13:10:24 UTC
From:
To:
Hi Santiago,

I've finally decided to upload 1:27.3.4.11+dfsg-4 with the fix. Thank you for
the help! Anyway, it'd be better to have this bug fixed. I've changed the code,
so Erlang now will build with any autoconf >= 2.72, this will help
with migration
as Erlang and autoconf will not have to migrate together.