# 7.2. Autotooled Packages - autotools.bbclass

## 7.2. Autotooled Packages - `autotools.bbclass`

Autotools (`autoconf`, `automake`, and `libtool`) bring standardization. This class defines a set of tasks (configure, compile etc.) that work for all Autotooled packages. It should usually be enough to define a few standard variables and then simply `inherit autotools`. This class can also work with software that emulates Autotools. For more information, see the "Autotooled Package" section in the Yocto Project Development Manual.

It's useful to have some idea of how the tasks defined by this class work and what they do behind the scenes.

- `do_configure` ‐ regenerates the configure script (using `autoreconf`) and then launches it with a standard set of arguments used during cross-compilation. You can pass additional parameters to `configure` through the `EXTRA_OECONF` variable.

- `do_compile` ‐ runs `make` with arguments that specify the compiler and linker. You can pass additional arguments through the `EXTRA_OEMAKE` variable.

- `do_install` ‐ runs `make install` and passes a DESTDIR option, which takes its value from the standard `DESTDIR` variable.