Automake 1.11 supports Linux-kernel like silent build rules with easy ways to switch to the more verbose output either at configure time: ./configure --disable-silent-rules or at make time: make V=1 IMHO would be better to "require newer version of existing tool" than to drag in a new special-purpose widget. The attached patch enables silent build rules by default.
Created attachment 29270 [details] [review] Get rid of shave with AM_SILENT_RULES
Reported correctly here: http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=594315
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