testsuite: use `skip_' for skipping of tests

* tests/defs: Use the `skip_' subroutine for test skipping.  Also
give sometimes more detailed messages about the reasons for the
skipping.
* tests/canon7.test: Likewise.
* tests/color.test: Likewise.
* tests/color2.test: Likewise.
* tests/compile2.test: Likewise.
* tests/dejagnu7.test: Likewise.
* tests/depcomp6.test: Likewise.
* tests/depcomp9.test: Likewise.
* tests/depcomp10.test: Likewise.
* tests/distlinks.test: Likewise.
* tests/distlinksbrk.test: Likewise.
* tests/fn99.test: Likewise.
* tests/fn99subdir.test: Likewise.
* tests/forcemiss2.test: Likewise.
* tests/fort5.test: Likewise.
* tests/gettext3.test: Likewise.
* tests/install2.test: Likewise.
* tests/instfail-info.test: Likewise.
* tests/instfail-java.test: Likewise.
* tests/instfail-libtool.test: Likewise.
* tests/instfail.test: Likewise.
* tests/instmany-mans.test: Likewise.
* tests/instmany-python.test: Likewise.
* tests/instmany.test: Likewise.
* tests/instsh3.test: Likewise.
* tests/ltinit.test: Likewise.
* tests/makej2.test: Likewise.
* tests/mdate6.test: Likewise.
* tests/mkinst3.test: Likewise.
* tests/parallel-tests3.test: Likewise.
* tests/parallel-tests-reset-term.test: Likewise.
* tests/parallel-tests-unreadable-log.test: Likewise,
* tests/python-virtualenv.test: Likewise.
* tests/remake-gnulib-remove-header.test: Likewise.
* tests/subobj9.test: Likewise.
* tests/symlink2.test: Likewise.
* tests/tar.test: Likewise.
* tests/tar2.test: Likewise.
* tests/txinfo26.test: Likewise.
* tests/vala2.test: Likewise.
* tests/vala3.test: Likewise.
* tests/vala5.test: Likewise.
* tests/vtexi4.test: Likewise.
* tests/instdir-texi.test: Likewise.
* tests/txinfo21.test: Likewise.

SquashMe

46 files changed, 201 insertions, 154 deletions

diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index b52a375bc..98b19d0d2 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,54 @@
+2011-05-01  Stefano Lattarini  <stefano.lattarini@gmail.com>
+
+	testsuite: use `skip_' for skipping of tests
+	* tests/defs: Use the `skip_' subroutine for test skipping.  Also
+	give sometimes more detailed messages about the reasons for the
+	skipping.
+	* tests/canon7.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/color.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/color2.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/compile2.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/dejagnu7.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/depcomp6.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/depcomp9.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/depcomp10.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/distlinks.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/distlinksbrk.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/fn99.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/fn99subdir.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/forcemiss2.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/fort5.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/gettext3.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/install2.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/instfail-info.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/instfail-java.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/instfail-libtool.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/instfail.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/instmany-mans.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/instmany-python.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/instmany.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/instsh3.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/ltinit.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/makej2.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/mdate6.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/mkinst3.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/parallel-tests3.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/parallel-tests-reset-term.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/parallel-tests-unreadable-log.test: Likewise,
+	* tests/python-virtualenv.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/remake-gnulib-remove-header.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/subobj9.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/symlink2.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/tar.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/tar2.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/txinfo26.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/vala2.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/vala3.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/vala5.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/vtexi4.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/instdir-texi.test: Likewise.
+	* tests/txinfo21.test: Likewise.
+
 2011-04-29  Stefano Lattarini  <stefano.lattarini@gmail.com>
 
 	testsuite: more environment sanitization
diff --git a/tests/canon7.test b/tests/canon7.test
index 4e700df1e..32b607c25 100755
--- a/tests/canon7.test
+++ b/tests/canon7.test
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@ AC_PROG_LIBTOOL dnl: for libtool libraries
 AC_OUTPUT
 END
 
-touch ,foo-bar libb.az+baz lib~zardoz,, || Exit 77
-rm -f ,foo-bar libb.az+baz lib~zardoz,,
+if touch ,foo-bar libb.az+baz lib~zardoz,,; then
+  rm -f ,foo-bar libb.az+baz lib~zardoz,,
+else
+  skip_ "cannot create regular files with \"tricky\" names"
+fi
 
 cat > Makefile.am << 'END'
 noinst_PROGRAMS = dummy_static dummy_dynamic ,foo-bar
diff --git a/tests/color.test b/tests/color.test
index 570b21d66..d912aa2da 100755
--- a/tests/color.test
+++ b/tests/color.test
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ std=''
 # GNU or BSD 'grep -a' works on files, but is not portable.
 case `echo "$std" | grep .` in
   "$std") ;;
-  *) echo "$me: grep can't parse nonprinting characters" >&2; Exit 77;;
+  *) skip_ "grep can't parse nonprinting characters";;
 esac
 
 cat >>configure.in <<END
diff --git a/tests/color2.test b/tests/color2.test
index c3315deb4..e0bfdab8c 100755
--- a/tests/color2.test
+++ b/tests/color2.test
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ std=''
 # GNU or BSD 'grep -a' works on files, but is not portable.
 case `echo "$std" | grep .` in
   "$std") ;;
-  *) echo "$me: grep can't parse nonprinting characters" >&2; Exit 77;;
+  *) skip_ "grep can't parse nonprinting characters";;
 esac
 
 # Check that we have a working expect program.
@@ -42,10 +42,8 @@ cat >expect-check <<'END'
 spawn $env(THE_SYSTEM_SHELL) -c :
 expect eof
 END
-THE_SYSTEM_SHELL=/bin/sh expect -f expect-check || {
-    echo "$me: failed to find a working expect program" >&2
-    Exit 77
-}
+THE_SYSTEM_SHELL=/bin/sh expect -f expect-check \
+  || skip_ "$me: failed to find a working expect program"
 
 # Do the tests.
 
diff --git a/tests/compile2.test b/tests/compile2.test
index 04fee9084..a466dc413 100755
--- a/tests/compile2.test
+++ b/tests/compile2.test
@@ -63,8 +63,13 @@ test -f "$amtest_object"
 
 # Absolute w32 paths should be accepted.
 # Do not actually run this test on anything that could be w32.
-test -d "C:\\" && Exit 77
-case $PATH_SEPARATOR in ';'|':');; *) Exit 77;; esac
+if test -d 'C:\'; then
+  skip_ "this test shouldn't run on a win32-like system"
+fi
+case $PATH_SEPARATOR in
+ ';'|':');;
+ *) skip_ "unrecognized PATH separator \`$PATH_SEPARATOR'"
+esac
 
 amtest_source='C:\libltdl\libltdl\slist.c'
 amtest_object='C:\libltdl\libltdl\libltdl_libltdl_la-slist.obj'
diff --git a/tests/defs b/tests/defs
index 46ff08b2e..9f862af7e 100644
--- a/tests/defs
+++ b/tests/defs
@@ -241,18 +241,20 @@ do
     bzip2)
       # Do not use --version, bzip2 still tries to compress stdin.
       echo "$me: running bzip2 --help"
-      bzip2 --help || exit 77
+      bzip2 --help \
+        || skip_ "required program \`bzip2' not available"
       ;;
     cl)
       CC=cl
       export CC
       echo "$me: running $CC -?"
-      $CC -? || exit 77
+      $CC -? || skip_ "Microsoft C compiler \`$CC' not available"
       ;;
     cscope)
       # Sun cscope is interactive without redirection.
       echo "$me: running cscope --version </dev/null"
-      cscope --version </dev/null || exit 77
+      cscope --version </dev/null \
+        || skip_ "required program \`cscope' not available"
       ;;
     etags)
       # Exuberant Ctags will create a TAGS file even
@@ -260,11 +262,12 @@ do
       # does not have such problem.)  Use -o /dev/null
       # to make sure we do not pollute the tests/ directory.
       echo "$me: running etags --version -o /dev/null"
-      etags --version -o /dev/null || exit 77
+      etags --version -o /dev/null \
+        || skip_ "required program \`etags' not available"
       ;;
     GNUmake)
       echo "$me: determine if $MAKE is GNU make"
-      using_gmake || exit 77
+      using_gmake || skip_ "this test requires GNU make"
       ;;
     gcc)
       # When gcc is required, export `CC=gcc' so that ./configure
@@ -274,25 +277,25 @@ do
       CC=gcc
       export CC
       echo "$me: running $CC --version"
-      $CC --version || exit 77
+      $CC --version || skip_ "GNU C compiler not available"
       echo "$me: running $CC -v"
-      $CC -v || exit 77
+      $CC -v || skip_ "botched installation for GNU C compiler"
       ;;
     gcj)
       GCJ=gcj
       export GCJ
       echo "$me: running $GCJ --version"
-      $GCJ --version || exit 77
+      $GCJ --version || skip_ "GNU Java compiler not available"
       echo "$me: running $GCJ -v"
-      $GCJ -v || exit 77
+      $GCJ -v || skip_ "botched installation for GNU Java compiler"
       ;;
     g++)
       CXX=g++
       export CXX
       echo "$me: running $CXX --version"
-      $CXX --version || exit 77
+      $CXX --version || skip_ "GNU C++ compiler not available"
       echo "$me: running $CXX -v"
-      $CXX -v || exit 77
+      $CXX -v || skip_ "botched installation for GNU C++ compiler"
       ;;
     icc)
       CC=icc
@@ -302,7 +305,7 @@ do
       # it will try link *nothing* and complain it cannot find
       # main(); funny).  Use -help so it does not try linking anything.
       echo "$me: running $CC -V -help"
-      $CC -V -help || exit 77
+      $CC -V -help || skip_ "Intel C compiler \`$CC' not available"
       ;;
     javac)
       # The Java compiler from JDK 1.5 (and presumably earlier versions)
@@ -310,16 +313,19 @@ do
       # telling that source files are missing.  Adding also the `-help'
       # option seems to solve the problem.
       echo "$me: running javac -version -help"
-      javac -version -help || exit 77
+      javac -version -help || skip_ "Sun Java compiler not available"
       ;;
     makedepend)
       echo "$me: running makedepend -f-"
-      makedepend -f- || exit 77
+      makedepend -f- \
+        || skip_ "required program \`makedepend' not available"
       ;;
     makeinfo-html)
-      # Make sure makeinfo understands --html.
+      # Make sure we have makeinfo, and it understands `--html'.
       echo "$me: running makeinfo --html --version"
-      makeinfo --html --version || exit 77
+      makeinfo --html --version \
+        || skip_ "cannot find a makeinfo program that groks the" \
+                 "\`--html' option"
       ;;
     non-root)
       # Skip this test case if the user is root.
@@ -331,21 +337,19 @@ do
       overwrite_status=$?
       rm -f $priv_check_temp
       if test $overwrite_status -eq 0; then
-        echo "$me: cannot drop file write permissions" >&2
-        exit 77
+        skip_ "cannot drop file write permissions"
       fi
       unset priv_check_temp overwrite_status
       ;;
     perl-threads)
       if test "$WANT_NO_THREADS" = "yes"; then
-        echo "$me: skip with Devel::Cover: cannot cope with threads" >&2
-        exit 77
+        skip_ "Devel::Cover cannot cope with threads"
       fi
       ;;
     python)
       # Python doesn't support --version, it has -V
       echo "$me: running python -V"
-      python -V || exit 77
+      python -V || skip_ "python interpreter not available"
       ;;
     ro-dir)
       # Skip this test case if read-only directories aren't supported
@@ -357,8 +361,7 @@ do
       create_status=$?
       rm -rf $ro_dir_temp
       if test $create_status -eq 0; then
-        echo "$me: cannot drop directory write permissions" >&2
-        exit 77
+        skip_ "cannot drop directory write permissions"
       fi
       unset ro_dir_temp create_status
       ;;
@@ -369,8 +372,7 @@ do
           echo "$me: running $r2h --version"
           $r2h --version && break 2
         done
-        echo "$me: no proper rst2html program found" >&2
-        exit 77
+        skip_ "no proper rst2html program found"
       done
       unset r2h
       ;;
@@ -379,20 +381,21 @@ do
       # the program on the runtest command-line. This requires
       # DejaGnu 1.4.3 or later.
       echo "$me: running runtest SOMEPROGRAM=someprogram --version"
-      runtest SOMEPROGRAM=someprogram --version || exit 77
+      runtest SOMEPROGRAM=someprogram --version \
+        || skip_ "DejaGnu is not available"
       ;;
     tex)
       # No all versions of Tex support `--version', so we use
       # a configure check.
       if test -z "$TEX"; then
-        echo "$me: TeX is required, but it wasn't found by configure" >&2
-        exit 77
+        skip_ "TeX is required, but it wasn't found by configure"
       fi
       ;;
     texi2dvi-o)
       # Texi2dvi supports `-o' since Texinfo 4.1.
       echo "$me: running texi2dvi -o /dev/null --version"
-      texi2dvi -o /dev/null --version || exit 77
+      texi2dvi -o /dev/null --version \
+        || skip_ "required program \`texi2dvi' not available"
       ;;
     xsi-shell)
       # Try some XSI features.
@@ -402,14 +405,14 @@ do
 	test "${_am_dummy##*/},${_am_dummy%/*},${_am_dummy#??}"${_am_dummy%"$_am_dummy"}, \
 		= c,a/b,b/c, \
 	&& eval 'test $(( 1 + 1 )) -eq 2 \
-	&& test "${#_am_dummy}" -eq 5' ) || exit 77
+	&& test "${#_am_dummy}" -eq 5' ) \
+          || skip_ "the shell lacks some required XSI features"
       ;;
     yacc)
       if test x"$YACC" = x"no"; then
         # The user has explicitly told he doesn't want a yacc program
         # to be used.
-        echo "$me: \$YACC is \"no\", skipping test" >&2
-        exit 77
+        skip_ "$me: \$YACC is \"no\", skipping test"
       elif test -z "$YACC"; then
         # The user hasn't explicitly specified any yacc program in the
         # environment, so we try to use bison, skipping the test if it's
@@ -417,7 +420,7 @@ do
         YACC='bison -y'
         export YACC
         echo "$me: running bison --version"
-        bison --version || exit 77
+        bison --version || skip_ "required program \`bison' not available"
       fi
       ;;
     *)
@@ -426,7 +429,7 @@ do
       # It is not likely but possible that $tool is a special builtin,
       # in which case the shell is allowed to exit after an error.
       # So, please leave the subshell here.
-      ( $tool --version ) || exit 77
+      ($tool --version) || skip_ "required program \`$tool' not available"
       ;;
   esac
 done
@@ -438,10 +441,8 @@ case $testbuilddir in
   *\ *|*\	*)
     case " $required " in
       *' libtool '* | *' libtoolize '* )
-        echo "$me: libtool/libtoolized cannot cope correctly" >&2
-        echo "$me: with spaces in the build tree" >&2
-        exit 77
-        ;;
+        skip_ "libtool and libtoolize cannot cope correctly" \
+              "with spaces in the build tree";;
     esac
     ;;
 esac
@@ -454,10 +455,8 @@ case $testsrcdir in
   *\ * |*\	*)
     case " $required " in
       *' libtool '* | *' libtoolize '* | *' gettext '* )
-        echo "$me: our testsuite setup cannot cope correctly with spaces" >&2
-        echo "$me: in the source tree for libtool/gettext tests" >&2
-        exit 77
-        ;;
+        skip_ "our testsuite setup cannot cope with spaces in the" \
+              "source tree name for libtool/gettext tests.";;
    esac
    ;;
 esac
@@ -494,16 +493,14 @@ case " $required " in
     case " $required " in
       *' libtool '*|*' libtoolize '*)
         if test $libtool_found != yes; then
-          echo "$me: libtool/libtoolize is required, but libtool.m4 wasn't" >&2
-          echo "$me: found in directories $aclocaldir $extra_includes" >&2
-          exit 77
+          skip_ "libtool is required, but libtool.m4 wasn't found in" \
+                "directories $aclocaldir $extra_includes"
         fi
         ;;
       *' gettext '*)
         if test $gettext_found != yes; then
-          echo "$me: gettext is required, but gettext.m4 wasn't found" >&2
-          echo "$me: in directories $aclocaldir $extra_includes" >&2
-          exit 77
+          skip_ "gettext is required, but gettext.m4 wasn't found in" \
+                "directories $aclocaldir $extra_includes"
         fi
         ;;
     esac
diff --git a/tests/dejagnu7.test b/tests/dejagnu7.test
index d2f36e155..d16e02d2a 100755
--- a/tests/dejagnu7.test
+++ b/tests/dejagnu7.test
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 required=runtest
 . ./defs || Exit 1
 
-# Check whether DejaGnu supports --status
-runtest --help | grep '.*--status' || Exit 77
+runtest --help | grep '.*--status' \
+  || skip_ "dejagnu lacks support for '--status'"
 
 cat > failtcl << 'END'
 #! /bin/sh
diff --git a/tests/depcomp10.test b/tests/depcomp10.test
index 0fa6c6a46..b278766c1 100755
--- a/tests/depcomp10.test
+++ b/tests/depcomp10.test
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ cd build
 ../configure am_cv_CC_dependencies_compiler_type=hp
 # Do not error out with the first make, as the forced 'hp' depmode might
 # not actually work, but we have overridden the _AM_DEPENDENCIES tests.
-$MAKE || Exit 77
+$MAKE || skip_ "forced depmode doesn't work"
 
 # We must clean and rebuild, as the actual error only happens the second
 # time the objects are built because 'depcomp' has silently messed up the
diff --git a/tests/depcomp6.test b/tests/depcomp6.test
index b937b9fe8..baf9fd58f 100755
--- a/tests/depcomp6.test
+++ b/tests/depcomp6.test
@@ -86,9 +86,8 @@ $AUTOMAKE -a
 ./configure --enable-dependency-tracking
 $MAKE
 
-# Check that dependency tracking works.
 if grep 'depmode=none' Makefile; then
-  Exit 77
+  skip_ "automatic dependency tracking couldn't be activated"
 fi
 
 cd sub2
diff --git a/tests/depcomp9.test b/tests/depcomp9.test
index 9972c3da8..d1323545b 100755
--- a/tests/depcomp9.test
+++ b/tests/depcomp9.test
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ cd build
 # Do not error out with the first make, as the forced 'makedepend'
 # depmode might not actually work, but we have overridden the
 # _AM_DEPENDENCIES tests.
-$MAKE || Exit 77
+$MAKE || skip_ "forced depmode doesn't work"
 
 # We must clean and rebuild, as the actual error only happens the second
 # time the objects are built because 'makedepend' has silently messed up
diff --git a/tests/distlinks.test b/tests/distlinks.test
index 3021cae13..0f68bee1c 100755
--- a/tests/distlinks.test
+++ b/tests/distlinks.test
@@ -21,10 +21,7 @@
 
 echo text > file
 
-ln -s file lnk || {
-  echo "$me: cannot create symlinks to files" >&2
-  Exit 77
-}
+ln -s file lnk || skip_ "cannot create symlinks to files"
 
 mkdir A
 mkdir B
diff --git a/tests/distlinksbrk.test b/tests/distlinksbrk.test
index 45755717d..ac0dc28c3 100755
--- a/tests/distlinksbrk.test
+++ b/tests/distlinksbrk.test
@@ -27,10 +27,7 @@ lnk2=${lnk_base}__002
 lnka=${lnk_base}__aaa
 lnkb=${lnk_base}__bbb
 
-ln -s nonesuch $lnk1 || {
-  echo "$me: cannot create broken symlinks" >&2
-  Exit 77
-}
+ln -s nonesuch $lnk1 || skip_ "cannot create broken symlinks"
 
 ln -s "`pwd`/nonesuch" $lnk2
 
diff --git a/tests/fn99.test b/tests/fn99.test
index c2afd2e29..c04880284 100755
--- a/tests/fn99.test
+++ b/tests/fn99.test
@@ -25,15 +25,13 @@ AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = filename-length-max=99
 EXTRA_DIST = 12345678
 END
 
-(for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
-do
-  mkdir -p 12345678 || Exit 77
-  cd 12345678
-  touch x
-done) || Exit 77
+(for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9; do
+  mkdir -p 12345678 && cd 12345678 && touch x || Exit 1
+done) || skip_ "failed to create deep directory hierarchy"
 
 # AIX 5.3 `cp -R' is too buggy for `make dist'.
-cp -R 12345678 t || Exit 77
+cp -R 12345678 t \
+  || skip_ "'cp -R' failed to copy deep directory hierarchy"
 
 $ACLOCAL
 $AUTOCONF
@@ -41,15 +39,13 @@ $AUTOMAKE
 ./configure
 $MAKE distcheck
 
-(for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
-do
-  mkdir -p 12345678 || Exit 77
-  cd 12345678
-  touch x
-done) || Exit 77
+(for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11; do
+  mkdir -p 12345678 && cd 12345678 && touch x || Exit 1
+done) || skip_ "failed to create deeper directory hierarchy"
 
 $MAKE dist 2>stderr && { cat stderr >&2; Exit 1; }
 cat stderr >&2
 grep 'filenames are too long' stderr
 test 2 = `grep 12345678 stderr | wc -l`
+
 :
diff --git a/tests/fn99subdir.test b/tests/fn99subdir.test
index a040e5801..3f793c8d8 100755
--- a/tests/fn99subdir.test
+++ b/tests/fn99subdir.test
@@ -46,15 +46,14 @@ AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = filename-length-max=99
 EXTRA_DIST = 12345678
 END
 
-(cd ${subdirname}; for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-do
-  mkdir -p 12345678 || Exit 77
-  cd 12345678
-  touch x
-done)
+(cd ${subdirname} || Exit 1
+for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8; do
+  mkdir -p 12345678 && cd 12345678 && touch x || Exit 1
+done) || skip_ "failed to create deep directory hierarchy"
 
 # AIX 5.3 `cp -R' is too buggy for `make dist'.
-cp -R ${subdirname} t || Exit 77
+cp -R ${subdirname} t \
+  || skip_ "'cp -R' failed to copy deep directory hierarchy"
 
 for init_dir in ${subdirname} .; do
 	(
@@ -67,15 +66,14 @@ done
 ./configure
 $MAKE distcheck
 
-(cd ${subdirname}; for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
-do
-  mkdir -p 12345678 || Exit 77
-  cd 12345678
-  touch x
-done)
+(cd ${subdirname} || Exit 1
+for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9; do
+  mkdir -p 12345678 && cd 12345678 && touch x || Exit 1
+done) || skip_ "failed to create deeper directory hierarchy"
 
 $MAKE dist 2>stderr && { cat stderr >&2; Exit 1; }
 cat stderr >&2
 grep 'filenames are too long' stderr
 test 1 = `grep 12345678 stderr | wc -l`
+
 :
diff --git a/tests/forcemiss2.test b/tests/forcemiss2.test
index 0b6b77529..80d78d3ba 100755
--- a/tests/forcemiss2.test
+++ b/tests/forcemiss2.test
@@ -25,10 +25,7 @@ rm -f install-sh
 echo zot > foo
 cp foo foo2
 
-ln -s foo2 install-sh || {
-  echo "$me: cannot create symlinks to files" >&2
-  Exit 77
-}
+ln -s foo2 install-sh || skip_ "cannot create symlinks to files"
 
 : > Makefile.am
 
diff --git a/tests/fort5.test b/tests/fort5.test
index c4a4b55ed..de68a6cd5 100755
--- a/tests/fort5.test
+++ b/tests/fort5.test
@@ -78,14 +78,13 @@ $AUTOMAKE -a
 $AUTOCONF
 
 # This test requires Libtool >= 2.0.  Earlier Libtool does not
-# have the LT_PREREQ macro to cause autoconf failure, so let's
-# skip in this case:
-grep LT_PREREQ configure && Exit 77
+# have the LT_PREREQ macro to cause autoconf failure.
+grep LT_PREREQ configure && skip_ "libtool is too old (probably < 2.0)"
 
 # Ensure we use --tag for f90, too.
 grep " --tag=FC" Makefile.in
 
-# configure may Exit 77 if no compiler is found,
+# configure may exit with status 77 if no compiler is found,
 # or if the compiler cannot compile Fortran 90 files).
 ./configure
 $MAKE
diff --git a/tests/gettext3.test b/tests/gettext3.test
index 46b3cbc8c..66a32a8d6 100755
--- a/tests/gettext3.test
+++ b/tests/gettext3.test
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ mkdir po
 
 # if aclocal fails, assume the gettext macros are too old and do not
 # define AM_GNU_GETTEXT_INTL_SUBDIR.
-$ACLOCAL || Exit 77
+$ACLOCAL || skip_ "your gettext macros are probably too old"
 
 # config.rpath is required.
 : >config.rpath
diff --git a/tests/install2.test b/tests/install2.test
index 2afdd375d..a04c0afc4 100755
--- a/tests/install2.test
+++ b/tests/install2.test
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ $AUTOMAKE -a
 chmod 000 Makefile.am
 
 # On some systems (like DOS and Windows), files are always readable.
-test ! -r Makefile.am || Exit 77
+test ! -r Makefile.am || skip_ "cannot drop file read permissions"
 
 ./configure
 
diff --git a/tests/instdir-texi.test b/tests/instdir-texi.test
index 9de8428c2..5e9ee9d6b 100755
--- a/tests/instdir-texi.test
+++ b/tests/instdir-texi.test
@@ -20,8 +20,10 @@
 required='makeinfo-html tex texi2dvi'
 . ./defs || Exit 1
 
-dvips --help || Exit 77
-pdfetex --help || pdftex --help || Exit 77
+dvips --help \
+  || skip_ "dvips is missing"
+pdfetex --version || pdftex --version \
+  || skip_ "pdeftex and pdftex are both missing"
 
 cat >>configure.in <<'END'
 AC_OUTPUT
diff --git a/tests/instfail-info.test b/tests/instfail-info.test
index becf59b00..3ac29860c 100755
--- a/tests/instfail-info.test
+++ b/tests/instfail-info.test
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ $MAKE uninstall
 for file in info1.info
 do
   chmod a-r $file
-  test ! -r $file || Exit 77
+  test ! -r $file || skip_ "cannot drop file read permissions"
   $MAKE install-data && Exit 1
   chmod u+r $file
 done
diff --git a/tests/instfail-java.test b/tests/instfail-java.test
index a57029713..a584d647d 100755
--- a/tests/instfail-java.test
+++ b/tests/instfail-java.test
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ $MAKE uninstall
 for file in java1.class
 do
   chmod a-r $file
-  test ! -r $file || Exit 77
+  test ! -r $file || skip_ "cannot drop file read permissions"
   $MAKE install-data && Exit 1
   chmod u+r $file
 done
diff --git a/tests/instfail-libtool.test b/tests/instfail-libtool.test
index b580c400e..114f29089 100755
--- a/tests/instfail-libtool.test
+++ b/tests/instfail-libtool.test
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ $MAKE uninstall
 for file in liblt1.la libltn1.la
 do
   chmod a-r $file
-  test ! -r $file || Exit 77
+  test ! -r $file || skip_ "cannot drop file read permissions"
   $MAKE install-exec && Exit 1
   chmod u+r $file
 done
diff --git a/tests/instfail.test b/tests/instfail.test
index d7fa73641..440438794 100755
--- a/tests/instfail.test
+++ b/tests/instfail.test
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ $MAKE uninstall
 for file in lib1.a libn1.a
 do
   chmod a-r $file
-  test ! -r $file || Exit 77
+  test ! -r $file || skip_ "cannot drop file read permissions"
   $MAKE install-exec && Exit 1
   chmod u+r $file
 done
diff --git a/tests/instmany-mans.test b/tests/instmany-mans.test
index b8f52a3ff..4a475c656 100755
--- a/tests/instmany-mans.test
+++ b/tests/instmany-mans.test
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ srcdir=../../$subdir
 
 for file in page3.1 page$nfiles.1 npage3.1 npage$nfiles.1; do
   chmod a-r $srcdir/$file
-  test ! -r $srcdir/$file || Exit 77
+  test ! -r $srcdir/$file || skip_ "cannot drop file read permissions"
   $MAKE install-man1 && Exit 1
   chmod u+r $srcdir/$file
 done
diff --git a/tests/instmany-python.test b/tests/instmany-python.test
index ab4aa73a0..26a6b16dd 100755
--- a/tests/instmany-python.test
+++ b/tests/instmany-python.test
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ srcdir=../../$subdir
 for file in python3.py python$nfiles.py
 do
   chmod a-r $srcdir/$file
-  test ! -r $srcdir/$file || Exit 77
+  test ! -r $srcdir/$file || skip_ "cannot drop file read permissions"
   $MAKE install && Exit 1
   chmod u+r $srcdir/$file
 done
diff --git a/tests/instmany.test b/tests/instmany.test
index effee8289..5c55165b1 100755
--- a/tests/instmany.test
+++ b/tests/instmany.test
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ srcdir=../../$subdir
 for file in script3 script$nfiles
 do
   chmod a-r $srcdir/$file
-  test ! -r $srcdir/$file || Exit 77
+  test ! -r $srcdir/$file || skip_ "cannot drop file read permissions"
   $MAKE install-binSCRIPTS && Exit 1
   chmod u+r $srcdir/$file
 done
diff --git a/tests/instsh3.test b/tests/instsh3.test
index a2bb9d344..da5041905 100755
--- a/tests/instsh3.test
+++ b/tests/instsh3.test
@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@
 
 required=non-root
 . ./defs || Exit 1
+
 # Solaris /usr/ucb/touch does not accept -t.
-touch -t $old_timestamp foo || Exit 77
+touch -t $old_timestamp foo \
+  || skip_ "touch utility doesn't accept '-t' option"
 
 ./install-sh -d d1
 
diff --git a/tests/ltinit.test b/tests/ltinit.test
index 42c39138e..e541431dc 100755
--- a/tests/ltinit.test
+++ b/tests/ltinit.test
@@ -45,7 +45,11 @@ END
 libtoolize
 # Skip if older libtool (pre-2.0) is used.
 { $ACLOCAL && $AUTOCONF; } || {
-  if test $? -eq 63; then Exit 77; else Exit 1; fi
+  if test $? -eq 63; then
+    skip_ "libtool is too old (probably < 2.0)"
+  else
+    Exit 1
+  fi
 }
 $EGREP 'LT_(INIT|PREREQ)' configure && Exit 1 # Sanity check.
 $AUTOMAKE -a
diff --git a/tests/makej2.test b/tests/makej2.test
index 2adc75aba..3025c06b9 100755
--- a/tests/makej2.test
+++ b/tests/makej2.test
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ mkdir build
 cd build
 ../configure "--prefix=`pwd`/inst"
 
-$MAKE -j2 || Exit 77
+$MAKE -j2 || skip_ "$MAKE failed to run with two parallel jobs"
 $MAKE -j2 distcheck
 $MAKE test-distdir-removed
 
diff --git a/tests/mdate6.test b/tests/mdate6.test
index 17672ee7c..94ddb4dc5 100755
--- a/tests/mdate6.test
+++ b/tests/mdate6.test
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
 
 a=
 file='file  name $a'
-( : > "$file" ) || Exit 77
+( : > "$file" ) \
+  || skip_ "file name with spaces and metacharacters not accepted"
 
 cp "$top_testsrcdir/lib/mdate-sh" .
 $SHELL ./mdate-sh "$file" >stdout 2>stderr ||
diff --git a/tests/mkinst3.test b/tests/mkinst3.test
index 8d9efe708..0082b53fb 100755
--- a/tests/mkinst3.test
+++ b/tests/mkinst3.test
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
 . ./defs || Exit 1
 
 # Make sure the directory we will create can be created...
-mkdir '~a b' || Exit 77
-mkdir '~a b/-x  y' || Exit 77
+mkdir '~a b' && mkdir '~a b/-x  y' \
+  || skip_ "directory names with spaces and metacharacters not accepted"
 rm -rf '~a b'
 
 cp "$top_testsrcdir/lib/mkinstalldirs" .
diff --git a/tests/parallel-tests-reset-term.test b/tests/parallel-tests-reset-term.test
index 3a222c0b8..1544c3f98 100755
--- a/tests/parallel-tests-reset-term.test
+++ b/tests/parallel-tests-reset-term.test
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ esc='['
 # GNU or BSD 'grep -a' works on files, but is not portable.
 case `echo "$esc" | $FGREP "$esc"` in
   "$esc") ;;
-  *) echo "$me: $FGREP can't parse nonprinting characters" >&2; Exit 77;;
+  *) skip_ "$FGREP can't parse nonprinting characters" ;;
 esac
 
 cat >> configure.in << 'END'
diff --git a/tests/parallel-tests-unreadable-log.test b/tests/parallel-tests-unreadable-log.test
index 572f03df5..8560c371d 100755
--- a/tests/parallel-tests-unreadable-log.test
+++ b/tests/parallel-tests-unreadable-log.test
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ line=PASS; export line
 $MAKE foo.log
 $MAKE bar.log
 chmod a-r foo.log bar.log
-test ! -r foo.log || Exit 77
+test ! -r foo.log || skip_ "cannot drop file read permissions"
 $MAKE test-suite.log >stdout && { cat stdout; Exit 1; }
 cat stdout
 grep '^2 of 2 tests failed *$' stdout
diff --git a/tests/parallel-tests3.test b/tests/parallel-tests3.test
index 9f0ce4289..1d621eb12 100755
--- a/tests/parallel-tests3.test
+++ b/tests/parallel-tests3.test
@@ -21,9 +21,8 @@ parallel_tests=yes
 required=GNUmake
 . ./defs || Exit 1
 
-# This test does not work well if $MAKE contains -j.
 case $MAKE in
-*\ -j*) Exit 77 ;;
+  *\ -j*) skip_ "this test does not work well if \$MAKE contains \`-j'";;
 esac
 
 cat >> configure.in << 'END'
diff --git a/tests/python-virtualenv.test b/tests/python-virtualenv.test
index 11055b0b3..d7f87064e 100755
--- a/tests/python-virtualenv.test
+++ b/tests/python-virtualenv.test
@@ -24,8 +24,10 @@ required='python virtualenv'
 CONFIG_SITE=/dev/null; export CONFIG_SITE
 
 # Skip the test if a proper virtualenv cannot be created.
-virtualenv --verbose virtenv || Exit 77
-test -f virtenv/bin/activate || Exit 77
+virtualenv --verbose virtenv \
+  || skip_ "virtualenv program not found"
+test -f virtenv/bin/activate \
+  || skip_ "creation of python virtual environment failed"
 
 # Activate the virtualenv.
 . ./virtenv/bin/activate
diff --git a/tests/remake-gnulib-remove-header.test b/tests/remake-gnulib-remove-header.test
index c28a078b3..ab77f11ba 100755
--- a/tests/remake-gnulib-remove-header.test
+++ b/tests/remake-gnulib-remove-header.test
@@ -95,8 +95,9 @@ for vpath in : false; do
 
   # Do not reject slow dependency extractors: we need dependency tracking.
   $srcdir/configure --enable-dependency-tracking
-  # Skip the test if dependency tracking couldn't be activated.
-  $FGREP 'depmode=none' Makefile && Exit 77
+  if $FGREP 'depmode=none' Makefile; then
+    skip_ "automatic dependency tracking couldn't be activated"
+  fi
 
   $MAKE
   ls -l
diff --git a/tests/subobj9.test b/tests/subobj9.test
index a910d22d5..fb81d70cc 100755
--- a/tests/subobj9.test
+++ b/tests/subobj9.test
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ $AUTOCONF
 $AUTOMAKE -a
 
 # Skip this test on configure errors (e.g., broken C++ compilers).
-./configure || Exit 77
+./configure || skip_ "configure failure"
 
 # Ensure './libtool --help' will use the right tool versions.
 export AUTOCONF AUTOMAKE
diff --git a/tests/symlink2.test b/tests/symlink2.test
index f2a9b4552..413c60cb4 100755
--- a/tests/symlink2.test
+++ b/tests/symlink2.test
@@ -20,10 +20,7 @@
 . ./defs || Exit 1
 
 rm -f install-sh
-ln -s Zardoz install-sh || {
-  echo "$me: cannot create broken symlinks" >&2
-  Exit 77
-}
+ln -s Zardoz install-sh || skip_ "cannot create broken symlinks"
 
 : > Makefile.am
 
diff --git a/tests/tar.test b/tests/tar.test
index 3dcf7ba90..22fdcb96f 100755
--- a/tests/tar.test
+++ b/tests/tar.test
@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@ $AUTOCONF
 $AUTOMAKE
 ./configure
 
-grep 'am__tar.*false' Makefile && Exit 77
+if grep 'am__tar.*false' Makefile; then
+  skip_ "cannot find proper archiver program"
+fi
 
 $MAKE distcheck
 test -f tar-1.0.tar.gz
diff --git a/tests/tar2.test b/tests/tar2.test
index 987ff403e..205a37ec4 100755
--- a/tests/tar2.test
+++ b/tests/tar2.test
@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@ $AUTOCONF
 $AUTOMAKE
 ./configure
 
-grep 'am__tar.*false' Makefile && Exit 77
+if grep 'am__tar.*false' Makefile; then
+  skip_ "cannot find proper archiver program"
+fi
 
 $MAKE distcheck
 test -f tar2-1.0.tar.gz
diff --git a/tests/txinfo21.test b/tests/txinfo21.test
index 39b7a549a..5196680df 100755
--- a/tests/txinfo21.test
+++ b/tests/txinfo21.test
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ test ! -f share/txinfo21/dvi/main.dvi
 test ! -f share/txinfo21/dvi/main2.dvi
 test ! -f share/txinfo21/dvi/main3.dvi
 
-(dvips --help 2>/dev/null >/dev/null) || Exit 77
+dvips --help || skip_ "dvips is missing"
 
 $MAKE install-ps
 test -f share/txinfo21/ps/main.ps
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@ test ! -f share/txinfo21/ps/main.ps
 test ! -f share/txinfo21/ps/main2.ps
 test ! -f share/txinfo21/ps/main3.ps
 
-(pdfetex --help 2>/dev/null >/dev/null) ||
-  (pdftex --help 2>/dev/null >/dev/null) || Exit 77
+pdfetex --help || pdftex --help \
+  || skip_ "pdftex and pdfetex are both missing"
 
 $MAKE install-pdf
 test -f share/txinfo21/pdf/main.pdf
diff --git a/tests/txinfo26.test b/tests/txinfo26.test
index ba935518d..20a708f12 100755
--- a/tests/txinfo26.test
+++ b/tests/txinfo26.test
@@ -46,9 +46,9 @@ $AUTOCONF
 $MAKE
 $MAKE distclean
 
-# We do not require this to work with a directory that contains white space.
 case `pwd` in
-  *\ * | *\	*) Exit 77;;
+  *\ * | *\	*)
+    skip_ "this test might fail in a directory containing white spaces";;
 esac
 
 mkdir build
diff --git a/tests/vala2.test b/tests/vala2.test
index d5308e35b..d020c5883 100755
--- a/tests/vala2.test
+++ b/tests/vala2.test
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ $ACLOCAL
 $AUTOCONF
 $AUTOMAKE -a
 
-./configure || Exit 77
+./configure || skip_ "configure failure"
 $MAKE
 
 # test rebuild rules
diff --git a/tests/vala3.test b/tests/vala3.test
index 2d9c85c33..8de96d667 100755
--- a/tests/vala3.test
+++ b/tests/vala3.test
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ $ACLOCAL
 $AUTOCONF
 $AUTOMAKE -a
 
-./configure || Exit 77
+./configure || skip_ "configure failure"
 $MAKE
 $MAKE distcheck
 $MAKE distclean
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ $ACLOCAL
 $AUTOCONF
 $AUTOMAKE -a
 
-./configure || Exit 77
+./configure || skip_ "configure failure"
 $MAKE
 $MAKE distcheck
 $MAKE distclean
diff --git a/tests/vala5.test b/tests/vala5.test
index d6ff62954..66cffe70a 100755
--- a/tests/vala5.test
+++ b/tests/vala5.test
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ $ACLOCAL
 $AUTOCONF
 $AUTOMAKE -a
 
-./configure || Exit 77
+./configure || skip_ "configuration step failure"
 $MAKE
 
+:
diff --git a/tests/vtexi4.test b/tests/vtexi4.test
index b6d970ad1..2bdcc35df 100755
--- a/tests/vtexi4.test
+++ b/tests/vtexi4.test
@@ -32,14 +32,11 @@ $date_is_posix \
   && day=`LC_ALL=C date '+%d'` && test -n "$day" \
   && month=`LC_ALL=C date '+%B'` && test -n "$month" \
   && year=`LC_ALL=C date '+%Y'`&& test -n "$year" \
-  || { echo "$me: 'date' is not POSIX-compliant enough"; Exit 77; }
+  || skip_ "'date' is not POSIX-compliant enough"
 day=`echo "$day" | sed 's/^0//'`
 
-# This test requires a grep program that can work on non-text input.
-(echo 'x' | grep x) || {
-  echo "$me: grep doesn't work on input that is not pure text" >&2
-  Exit 77
-}
+(echo 'x' | grep x) \
+  || skip_ "grep doesn't work on input that is not pure text"
 
 cat > configure.in << END
 AC_INIT([$me], [123.456])
@@ -102,7 +99,7 @@ $AUTOMAKE -a
 ./configure
 $MAKE all dvi
 
-# debugging & sanity checks
+# Debugging & sanity checks.
 ls -l
 cat version.texi
 cat foo.info