Hi Harlan, >From my POV, as long as one can bootstrap to the point where there is a sufficient base of utilities, all is well. I agree. "we can't get there from here". As has been said: install (say) coreutils-8.4, which does not require printf. This gives you printf. Then proceed. I still believe this is an epsilon-probability event. Like most people here I've updated lots of machines running lots of versions over lots of years, production and otherwise. I still cannot fathom a case where *new* source releases requiring a printf command would be a serious problem. k _______________________________________________ Autoconf mailing list Autoconf@xxxxxxx http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/autoconf