ax_with_python

Locates an installed Python binary, placing the result in the precious variable $PYTHON. Accepts a present $PYTHON, then --with-python, and failing that searches for python in the given path (which defaults to the system path). If python is found, $PYTHON is set to the full path of the binary; if it is not found, $PYTHON is set to VALUE-IF-NOT-FOUND, which defaults to 'python'.

Example:

   AX_WITH_PYTHON(2.2, missing)

AC_DEFUN([AX_WITH_PYTHON],
[
  AC_ARG_VAR([PYTHON])

  dnl unless PYTHON was supplied to us (as a precious variable)
  if test -z "$PYTHON"
  then
    AC_MSG_CHECKING(for --with-python)
    AC_ARG_WITH(python,
                AC_HELP_STRING([--with-python=PYTHON],
                               [absolute path name of Python executable]),
                [ if test "$withval" != "yes"
                  then
                    PYTHON="$withval"
                    AC_MSG_RESULT($withval)
                  else
                    AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
                  fi
                ],
                [ AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
                ])
  fi

  dnl if it's still not found, check the paths, or use the fallback
  if test -z "$PYTHON"
  then
    AC_PATH_PROG([PYTHON], python, m4_ifval([$2],[$2],[python]), $3)
  fi

  dnl check version if required
  m4_ifvaln([$1], [
    dnl do this only if we didn't fall back
    if test "$PYTHON" != "m4_ifval([$2],[$2],[python])"
    then
      AC_MSG_CHECKING($PYTHON version >= $1)
      if test `$PYTHON -c ["import sys; print sys.version[:3] >= \"$1\" and \"OK\" or \"OLD\""]` = "OK"
      then
        AC_MSG_RESULT(ok)
      else
        AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
        PYTHON="$2"
      fi
    fi])
])