https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=89961
--- Comment #24 from Martin Liška <marxin at gcc dot gnu.org> --- > Correct, but `--help` and `--version` are formatted for humans, not machines. > This can lead to false positives or negatives. It forces every application > that > calls gcov and wants to support wide range of versions to embed its copy of > knowledge about gcov's development history. And `--help` won't tell if `-x` > works with `--json-format`, that's why `--version` needs to be used as well. I see your point, but I would rather recommend doing a "configure check", I mean having a bash snippet that tests various features.
