Optional Features

The Bash configure has a number of `--enable-FEATURE' options, where FEATURE indicates an optional part of Bash. There are also several `--with-PACKAGE' options, where PACKAGE is something like `gnu-malloc' or `purify'. To turn off the default use of a package, use `--without-PACKAGE'. To configure Bash without a feature that is enabled by default, use `--disable-FEATURE'.

Here is a complete list of the `--enable-' and `--with-' options that the Bash configure recognizes.

--with-afs

Define if you are using the Andrew File System from Transarc.

--with-curses

Use the curses library instead of the termcap library. This should be supplied if your system has an inadequate or incomplete termcap database.

--with-glibc-malloc

Use the GNU libc version of malloc in `lib/malloc/gmalloc.c'. This is not the version of malloc that appears in glibc version 2, but a modified version of the malloc from glibc version 1. This is somewhat slower than the default malloc, but wastes less space on a per-allocation basis, and will return memory to the operating system under some circumstances.

--with-gnu-malloc

Use the GNU version of malloc in `lib/malloc/malloc.c'. This is not the same malloc that appears in GNU libc, but an older version derived from the 4.2 BSD malloc. This malloc is very fast, but wastes some space on each allocation. This option is enabled by default. The `NOTES' file contains a list of systems for which this should be turned off, and configure disables this option automatically for a number of systems.

--with-purify

Define this to use the Purify memory allocation checker from Pure Software.

--enable-minimal-config

This produces a shell with minimal features, close to the historical Bourne shell.

There are several `--enable-' options that alter how Bash is compiled and linked, rather than changing run-time features.

--enable-profiling

This builds a Bash binary that produces profiling information to be processed by gprof each time it is executed.

--enable-static-link

This causes Bash to be linked statically, if gcc is being used. This could be used to build a version to use as root's shell.

The `minimal-config' option can be used to disable all of the following options, but it is processed first, so individual options may be enabled using `enable-FEATURE'.

All of the following options except for `disabled-builtins' and `usg-echo-default' are enabled by default, unless the operating system does not provide the necessary support.

--enable-alias

Allow alias expansion and include the alias and unalias builtins (see section Aliases).

--enable-array-variables

Include support for one-dimensional array shell variables (see section Arrays).

--enable-bang-history

Include support for csh-like history substitution (see section History Expansion).

--enable-brace-expansion

Include csh-like brace expansion ( b{a,b}c ==> bac bbc ). See section Brace Expansion, for a complete description.

--enable-command-timing

Include support for recognizing time as a reserved word and for displaying timing statistics for the pipeline following time. This allows pipelines as well as shell builtins and functions to be timed.

--enable-cond-command

Include support for the [[ conditional command (see section Conditional Constructs).

--enable-directory-stack

Include support for a csh-like directory stack and the pushd, popd, and dirs builtins (see section The Directory Stack).

--enable-disabled-builtins

Allow builtin commands to be invoked via `builtin xxx' even after xxx has been disabled using `enable -n xxx'. See section Bash Builtin Commands, for details of the builtin and enable builtin commands.

--enable-dparen-arithmetic

Include support for the ((...)) command (see section Conditional Constructs).

--enable-extended-glob

Include support for the extended pattern matching features described above under section Pattern Matching.

--enable-help-builtin

Include the help builtin, which displays help on shell builtins and variables.

--enable-history

Include command history and the fc and history builtin commands.

--enable-job-control

This enables the job control features (see section Job Control), if the operating system supports them.

--enable-process-substitution

This enables process substitution (see section Process Substitution) if the operating system provides the necessary support.

--enable-prompt-string-decoding

Turn on the interpretation of a number of backslash-escaped characters in the $PS1, $PS2, $PS3, and $PS4 prompt strings. See section Controlling the Prompt, for a complete list of prompt string escape sequences.

--enable-readline

Include support for command-line editing and history with the Bash version of the Readline library (see section Command Line Editing).

--enable-restricted

Include support for a restricted shell. If this is enabled, Bash, when called as rbash, enters a restricted mode. See section The Restricted Shell, for a description of restricted mode.

--enable-select

Include the select builtin, which allows the generation of simple menus (see section Conditional Constructs).

--enable-usg-echo-default

Make the echo builtin expand backslash-escaped characters by default, without requiring the `-e' option. This makes the Bash echo behave more like the System V version.

The file `config.h.top' contains C Preprocessor `#define' statements for options which are not settable from configure. Some of these are not meant to be changed; beware of the consequences if you do. Read the comments associated with each definition for more information about its effect.

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