=head1 SYNOPSIS
-B<dh_auto_configure> [S<I<debhelper options>>] [S<B<--> I<params>>]
+B<dh_auto_configure> [S<I<build system options>>] [S<I<debhelper options>>] [S<B<--> I<params>>]
=head1 DESCRIPTION
-dh_auto_configure is a debhelper program that tries to automatically
-configure a package prior to building. It looks for and runs a ./configure
-script, Makefile.PL, Build.PL, or cmake. A standard set of parameters is
-determined and passed to the program that is run. If no program to run is
-found, dh_auto_configure will exit without doing anything.
+B<dh_auto_configure> is a debhelper program that tries to automatically
+configure a package prior to building. It does so by running the
+appropriate command for the build system it detects the package uses.
+For example, it looks for and runs a F<./configure> script, F<Makefile.PL>,
+F<Build.PL>, or F<cmake>. A standard set of parameters is determined and passed
+to the program that is run. Some build systems, such as make, do not
+need a configure step; for these B<dh_auto_configure> will exit without
+doing anything.
This is intended to work for about 90% of packages. If it doesn't work,
-you're encouraged to skip using dh_auto_configure at all, and just run
-./configure or its equivalent manually.
+you're encouraged to skip using B<dh_auto_configure> at all, and just run
+F<./configure> or its equivalent manually.
=head1 OPTIONS
+See L<debhelper(7)/B<BUILD SYSTEM OPTIONS>> for a list of common build
+system selection and control options.
+
=over 4
=item B<--> I<params>
-Pass "params" to the program that is run. These can be used to supplement
-or override the standard parameters that dh_auto_configure passes.
+Pass I<params> to the program that is run, after the standard
+parameters that B<dh_auto_configure> passes. This can be used to supplement
+or override those parameters. For example:
+
+ dh_auto_configure -- --with-foo --enable-bar
=back