It is possible to define and install programs which are scripts. Such
programs are listed using the SCRIPTS primary name. Automake
doesn't define any dependencies for scripts; the Makefile.am
should include the appropriate rules.
Automake does not assume that scripts are derived objects; such objects must be deleted by hand (see Clean).
The automake program itself is a Perl script that is generated at
configure time from automake.in. Here is how this is handled:
bin_SCRIPTS = automake
Since automake appears in the AC_OUTPUT macro, a target
for it is automatically generated, and it is also automatically cleaned
(despite the fact it's a script).
Script objects can be installed in bindir, sbindir,
libexecdir, or pkgdatadir.
Scripts that need not being installed can be listed in
noinst_SCRIPTS, and among them, those which are needed only by
make check should go in check_SCRIPTS.