+--- [autoscan]
                        |
                        v
Makefile.am's       configure.ac (older configure.in)
    |                   |
    |          + - - - -+
    |          |        |
    v          |        v
automake <- - -+    autoconf [autoreconf]
    |                   |
    v                   v
Makefile.in's - - > configure
                        |
                        v
                    Makefile's
                        |
                        v
                    make (install, clean, uninstall ...)


(based on text from `automake.pdf')