diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 1b9bc6f..e28957a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ DIST_FILES = \
 	Postamble.make				\
 	aclocal.m4				\
 	mbvendor.m4				\
-	python.m4				\
-	pythondev.m4				\
+	ax_python.m4				\
+	ax_python_devel.m4				\
 	runlog.m4				\
 	config.guess				\
 	config.sub				\
diff --git a/aclocal.m4 b/aclocal.m4
index fb56765..034ae12 100644
--- a/aclocal.m4
+++ b/aclocal.m4
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 m4_include([pkg.m4])
 m4_include([runlog.m4])
-m4_include([python.m4])
+m4_include([ax_python.m4])
 m4_include([kfeature.m4])
diff --git a/ax_python.m4 b/ax_python.m4
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c9f511
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ax_python.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+# ===========================================================================
+#        https://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_python.html
+# ===========================================================================
+#
+# SYNOPSIS
+#
+#   AX_PYTHON
+#
+# DESCRIPTION
+#
+#   This macro does a complete Python development environment check.
+#
+#   It checks for all known versions. When it finds an executable, it looks
+#   to find the header files and library.
+#
+#   It sets PYTHON_BIN to the name of the python executable,
+#   PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR to the directory holding the header files, and
+#   PYTHON_LIB to the name of the Python library.
+#
+#   This macro calls AC_SUBST on PYTHON_BIN (via AC_CHECK_PROG),
+#   PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR and PYTHON_LIB.
+#
+# LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright (c) 2008 Michael Tindal
+#
+#   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+#   under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+#   Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your
+#   option) any later version.
+#
+#   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+#   WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+#   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General
+#   Public License for more details.
+#
+#   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+#   with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+#   As a special exception, the respective Autoconf Macro's copyright owner
+#   gives unlimited permission to copy, distribute and modify the configure
+#   scripts that are the output of Autoconf when processing the Macro. You
+#   need not follow the terms of the GNU General Public License when using
+#   or distributing such scripts, even though portions of the text of the
+#   Macro appear in them. The GNU General Public License (GPL) does govern
+#   all other use of the material that constitutes the Autoconf Macro.
+#
+#   This special exception to the GPL applies to versions of the Autoconf
+#   Macro released by the Autoconf Archive. When you make and distribute a
+#   modified version of the Autoconf Macro, you may extend this special
+#   exception to the GPL to apply to your modified version as well.
+
+#serial 19
+
+AC_DEFUN([AX_PYTHON],
+[AC_MSG_CHECKING(for python build information)
+AC_MSG_RESULT([])
+for python in python3.9 python3.8 python3.7 python3.6 python3.5 python3.4 python3.3 python3.2 python3.1 python3.0 python2.7 python2.6 python2.5 python2.4 python2.3 python2.2 python2.1 python; do
+AC_CHECK_PROGS(PYTHON_BIN, [$python])
+ax_python_bin=$PYTHON_BIN
+if test x$ax_python_bin != x; then
+   AC_CHECK_LIB($ax_python_bin, main, ax_python_lib=$ax_python_bin, ax_python_lib=no)
+   if test x$ax_python_lib == xno; then
+     AC_CHECK_LIB(${ax_python_bin}m, main, ax_python_lib=${ax_python_bin}m, ax_python_lib=no)
+   fi
+   if test x$ax_python_lib != xno; then
+     ax_python_header=`$ax_python_bin -c "from distutils.sysconfig import *; print(get_config_var('CONFINCLUDEPY'))"`
+     if test x$ax_python_header != x; then
+       break;
+     fi
+   fi
+fi
+done
+if test x$ax_python_bin = x; then
+   ax_python_bin=no
+fi
+if test x$ax_python_header = x; then
+   ax_python_header=no
+fi
+if test x$ax_python_lib = x; then
+   ax_python_lib=no
+fi
+
+AC_MSG_RESULT([  results of the Python check:])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([    Binary:      $ax_python_bin])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([    Library:     $ax_python_lib])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([    Include Dir: $ax_python_header])
+
+if test x$ax_python_header != xno; then
+  PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR=$ax_python_header
+  AC_SUBST(PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR)
+fi
+if test x$ax_python_lib != xno; then
+  PYTHON_LIB=$ax_python_lib
+  AC_SUBST(PYTHON_LIB)
+fi
+])dnl
diff --git a/ax_python_devel.m4 b/ax_python_devel.m4
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c79f042
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ax_python_devel.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,392 @@
+# ===========================================================================
+#     https://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_python_devel.html
+# ===========================================================================
+#
+# SYNOPSIS
+#
+#   AX_PYTHON_DEVEL([version])
+#
+# DESCRIPTION
+#
+#   Note: Defines as a precious variable "PYTHON_VERSION". Don't override it
+#   in your configure.ac.
+#
+#   This macro checks for Python and tries to get the include path to
+#   'Python.h'. It provides the $(PYTHON_CPPFLAGS) and $(PYTHON_LIBS) output
+#   variables. It also exports $(PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS) and
+#   $(PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS) for embedding Python in your code.
+#
+#   You can search for some particular version of Python by passing a
+#   parameter to this macro, for example ">= '2.3.1'", or "== '2.4'". Please
+#   note that you *have* to pass also an operator along with the version to
+#   match, and pay special attention to the single quotes surrounding the
+#   version number. Don't use "PYTHON_VERSION" for this: that environment
+#   variable is declared as precious and thus reserved for the end-user.
+#
+#   This macro should work for all versions of Python >= 2.1.0. As an end
+#   user, you can disable the check for the python version by setting the
+#   PYTHON_NOVERSIONCHECK environment variable to something else than the
+#   empty string.
+#
+#   If you need to use this macro for an older Python version, please
+#   contact the authors. We're always open for feedback.
+#
+# LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright (c) 2009 Sebastian Huber <sebastian-huber@web.de>
+#   Copyright (c) 2009 Alan W. Irwin
+#   Copyright (c) 2009 Rafael Laboissiere <rafael@laboissiere.net>
+#   Copyright (c) 2009 Andrew Collier
+#   Copyright (c) 2009 Matteo Settenvini <matteo@member.fsf.org>
+#   Copyright (c) 2009 Horst Knorr <hk_classes@knoda.org>
+#   Copyright (c) 2013 Daniel Mullner <muellner@math.stanford.edu>
+#
+#   This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+#   under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+#   Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your
+#   option) any later version.
+#
+#   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+#   WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+#   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General
+#   Public License for more details.
+#
+#   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+#   with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+#   As a special exception, the respective Autoconf Macro's copyright owner
+#   gives unlimited permission to copy, distribute and modify the configure
+#   scripts that are the output of Autoconf when processing the Macro. You
+#   need not follow the terms of the GNU General Public License when using
+#   or distributing such scripts, even though portions of the text of the
+#   Macro appear in them. The GNU General Public License (GPL) does govern
+#   all other use of the material that constitutes the Autoconf Macro.
+#
+#   This special exception to the GPL applies to versions of the Autoconf
+#   Macro released by the Autoconf Archive. When you make and distribute a
+#   modified version of the Autoconf Macro, you may extend this special
+#   exception to the GPL to apply to your modified version as well.
+
+#serial 25
+
+AU_ALIAS([AC_PYTHON_DEVEL], [AX_PYTHON_DEVEL])
+AC_DEFUN([AX_PYTHON_DEVEL],[
+	#
+	# Allow the use of a (user set) custom python version
+	#
+	AC_ARG_VAR([PYTHON_VERSION],[The installed Python
+		version to use, for example '2.3'. This string
+		will be appended to the Python interpreter
+		canonical name.])
+
+	AC_PATH_PROG([PYTHON],[python[$PYTHON_VERSION]])
+	if test -z "$PYTHON"; then
+	   AC_MSG_ERROR([Cannot find python$PYTHON_VERSION in your system path])
+	   PYTHON_VERSION=""
+	fi
+
+	#
+	# Check for a version of Python >= 2.1.0
+	#
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for a version of Python >= '2.1.0'])
+	ac_supports_python_ver=`$PYTHON -c "import sys; \
+		ver = sys.version.split ()[[0]]; \
+		print (ver >= '2.1.0')"`
+	if test "$ac_supports_python_ver" != "True"; then
+		if test -z "$PYTHON_NOVERSIONCHECK"; then
+			AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+			AC_MSG_FAILURE([
+This version of the AC@&t@_PYTHON_DEVEL macro
+doesn't work properly with versions of Python before
+2.1.0. You may need to re-run configure, setting the
+variables PYTHON_CPPFLAGS, PYTHON_LIBS, PYTHON_SITE_PKG,
+PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS and PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS by hand.
+Moreover, to disable this check, set PYTHON_NOVERSIONCHECK
+to something else than an empty string.
+])
+		else
+			AC_MSG_RESULT([skip at user request])
+		fi
+	else
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+	fi
+
+	#
+	# If the macro parameter ``version'' is set, honour it.
+	# A Python shim class, VPy, is used to implement correct version comparisons via
+	# string expressions, since e.g. a naive textual ">= 2.7.3" won't work for
+	# Python 2.7.10 (the ".1" being evaluated as less than ".3").
+	#
+	if test -n "$1"; then
+		AC_MSG_CHECKING([for a version of Python $1])
+                cat << EOF > ax_python_devel_vpy.py
+class VPy:
+    def vtup(self, s):
+        return tuple(map(int, s.strip().replace("rc", ".").split(".")))
+    def __init__(self):
+        import sys
+        self.vpy = tuple(sys.version_info)
+    def __eq__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy == self.vtup(s)
+    def __ne__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy != self.vtup(s)
+    def __lt__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy < self.vtup(s)
+    def __gt__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy > self.vtup(s)
+    def __le__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy <= self.vtup(s)
+    def __ge__(self, s):
+        return self.vpy >= self.vtup(s)
+EOF
+		ac_supports_python_ver=`$PYTHON -c "import ax_python_devel_vpy; \
+                        ver = ax_python_devel_vpy.VPy(); \
+			print (ver $1)"`
+                rm -rf ax_python_devel_vpy*.py* __pycache__/ax_python_devel_vpy*.py*
+		if test "$ac_supports_python_ver" = "True"; then
+			AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+		else
+			AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+			AC_MSG_ERROR([this package requires Python $1.
+If you have it installed, but it isn't the default Python
+interpreter in your system path, please pass the PYTHON_VERSION
+variable to configure. See ``configure --help'' for reference.
+])
+			PYTHON_VERSION=""
+		fi
+	fi
+
+	#
+	# Check if you have distutils, else fail
+	#
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for the sysconfig Python package])
+	ac_sysconfig_result=`$PYTHON -c "import sysconfig" 2>&1`
+	if test $? -eq 0; then
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+		IMPORT_SYSCONFIG="import sysconfig"
+	else
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+
+		AC_MSG_CHECKING([for the distutils Python package])
+		ac_sysconfig_result=`$PYTHON -c "from distutils import sysconfig" 2>&1`
+		if test $? -eq 0; then
+			AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+			IMPORT_SYSCONFIG="from distutils import sysconfig"
+		else
+			AC_MSG_ERROR([cannot import Python module "distutils".
+Please check your Python installation. The error was:
+$ac_sysconfig_result])
+			PYTHON_VERSION=""
+		fi
+	fi
+
+	#
+	# Check for Python include path
+	#
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Python include path])
+	if test -z "$PYTHON_CPPFLAGS"; then
+		if test "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG" = "import sysconfig"; then
+			# sysconfig module has different functions
+			python_path=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_path ('include'));"`
+			plat_python_path=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_path ('platinclude'));"`
+		else
+			# old distutils way
+			python_path=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_python_inc ());"`
+			plat_python_path=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_python_inc (plat_specific=1));"`
+		fi
+		if test -n "${python_path}"; then
+			if test "${plat_python_path}" != "${python_path}"; then
+				python_path="-I$python_path -I$plat_python_path"
+			else
+				python_path="-I$python_path"
+			fi
+		fi
+		PYTHON_CPPFLAGS=$python_path
+	fi
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_CPPFLAGS])
+	AC_SUBST([PYTHON_CPPFLAGS])
+
+	#
+	# Check for Python library path
+	#
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Python library path])
+	if test -z "$PYTHON_LIBS"; then
+		# (makes two attempts to ensure we've got a version number
+		# from the interpreter)
+		ac_python_version=`cat<<EOD | $PYTHON -
+
+# join all versioning strings, on some systems
+# major/minor numbers could be in different list elements
+from sysconfig import *
+e = get_config_var('VERSION')
+if e is not None:
+	print(e)
+EOD`
+
+		if test -z "$ac_python_version"; then
+			if test -n "$PYTHON_VERSION"; then
+				ac_python_version=$PYTHON_VERSION
+			else
+				ac_python_version=`$PYTHON -c "import sys; \
+					print (sys.version[[:3]])"`
+			fi
+		fi
+
+		# Make the versioning information available to the compiler
+		AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([HAVE_PYTHON], ["$ac_python_version"],
+                                   [If available, contains the Python version number currently in use.])
+
+		# First, the library directory:
+		ac_python_libdir=`cat<<EOD | $PYTHON -
+
+# There should be only one
+$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG
+e = sysconfig.get_config_var('LIBDIR')
+if e is not None:
+	print (e)
+EOD`
+
+		# Now, for the library:
+		ac_python_library=`cat<<EOD | $PYTHON -
+
+$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG
+c = sysconfig.get_config_vars()
+if 'LDVERSION' in c:
+	print ('python'+c[['LDVERSION']])
+else:
+	print ('python'+c[['VERSION']])
+EOD`
+
+		# This small piece shamelessly adapted from PostgreSQL python macro;
+		# credits goes to momjian, I think. I'd like to put the right name
+		# in the credits, if someone can point me in the right direction... ?
+		#
+		if test -n "$ac_python_libdir" -a -n "$ac_python_library"
+		then
+			# use the official shared library
+			ac_python_library=`echo "$ac_python_library" | sed "s/^lib//"`
+			PYTHON_LIBS="-L$ac_python_libdir -l$ac_python_library"
+		else
+			# old way: use libpython from python_configdir
+			ac_python_libdir=`$PYTHON -c \
+			  "from sysconfig import get_python_lib as f; \
+			  import os; \
+			  print (os.path.join(f(plat_specific=1, standard_lib=1), 'config'));"`
+			PYTHON_LIBS="-L$ac_python_libdir -lpython$ac_python_version"
+		fi
+
+		if test -z "PYTHON_LIBS"; then
+			AC_MSG_ERROR([
+  Cannot determine location of your Python DSO. Please check it was installed with
+  dynamic libraries enabled, or try setting PYTHON_LIBS by hand.
+			])
+		fi
+	fi
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_LIBS])
+	AC_SUBST([PYTHON_LIBS])
+
+	#
+	# Check for site packages
+	#
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Python site-packages path])
+	if test -z "$PYTHON_SITE_PKG"; then
+		if test "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG" = "import sysconfig"; then
+			PYTHON_SITE_PKG=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_path('purelib'));"`
+		else
+			# distutils.sysconfig way
+			PYTHON_SITE_PKG=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_python_lib(0,0));"`
+		fi
+	fi
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_SITE_PKG])
+	AC_SUBST([PYTHON_SITE_PKG])
+
+	#
+	# Check for platform-specific site packages
+	#
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([for Python platform specific site-packages path])
+	if test -z "$PYTHON_SITE_PKG"; then
+		if test "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG" = "import sysconfig"; then
+			PYTHON_PLATFORM_SITE_PKG=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_path('platlib'));"`
+		else
+			# distutils.sysconfig way
+			PYTHON_PLATFORM_SITE_PKG=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+				print (sysconfig.get_python_lib(1,0));"`
+		fi
+	fi
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_PLATFORM_SITE_PKG])
+	AC_SUBST([PYTHON_PLATFORM_SITE_PKG])
+
+	#
+	# libraries which must be linked in when embedding
+	#
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING(python extra libraries)
+	if test -z "$PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS"; then
+	   PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+                conf = sysconfig.get_config_var; \
+                print (conf('LIBS') + ' ' + conf('SYSLIBS'))"`
+	fi
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS])
+	AC_SUBST(PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS)
+
+	#
+	# linking flags needed when embedding
+	#
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING(python extra linking flags)
+	if test -z "$PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS"; then
+		PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS=`$PYTHON -c "$IMPORT_SYSCONFIG; \
+			conf = sysconfig.get_config_var; \
+			print (conf('LINKFORSHARED'))"`
+	fi
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([$PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS])
+	AC_SUBST(PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS)
+
+	#
+	# final check to see if everything compiles alright
+	#
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([consistency of all components of python development environment])
+	# save current global flags
+	ac_save_LIBS="$LIBS"
+	ac_save_LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS"
+	ac_save_CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS"
+	LIBS="$ac_save_LIBS $PYTHON_LIBS $PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS $PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS"
+	LDFLAGS="$ac_save_LDFLAGS $PYTHON_EXTRA_LDFLAGS"
+	CPPFLAGS="$ac_save_CPPFLAGS $PYTHON_CPPFLAGS"
+	AC_LANG_PUSH([C])
+	AC_LINK_IFELSE([
+		AC_LANG_PROGRAM([[#include <Python.h>]],
+				[[Py_Initialize();]])
+		],[pythonexists=yes],[pythonexists=no])
+	AC_LANG_POP([C])
+	# turn back to default flags
+	CPPFLAGS="$ac_save_CPPFLAGS"
+	LIBS="$ac_save_LIBS"
+	LDFLAGS="$ac_save_LDFLAGS"
+
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([$pythonexists])
+
+        if test ! "x$pythonexists" = "xyes"; then
+	   AC_MSG_FAILURE([
+  Could not link test program to Python. Maybe the main Python library has been
+  installed in some non-standard library path. If so, pass it to configure,
+  via the LIBS environment variable.
+  Example: ./configure LIBS="-L/usr/non-standard-path/python/lib"
+  ============================================================================
+   ERROR!
+   You probably have to install the development version of the Python package
+   for your distribution.  The exact name of this package varies among them.
+  ============================================================================
+	   ])
+	  PYTHON_VERSION=""
+	fi
+
+	#
+	# all done!
+	#
+])
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index f8aa4f9..e05329d 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ AC_SUBST(OCFS2_TEST_ENABLE_THIRDPARTY)
 AC_MSG_RESULT($enable_third_party)
 
 dnl check for Python
-AM_PATH_PYTHON(2.3, , AC_MSG_ERROR([could not find Python 2.3 or higher.]))
+AX_PYTHON()
 
 API_COMPAT_HEADERS=""
 API_COMPAT_CFLAGS=""
diff --git a/python.m4 b/python.m4
deleted file mode 100644
index 168ef75..0000000
--- a/python.m4
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,181 +0,0 @@
-## ------------------------
-## Python file handling
-## From Andrew Dalke
-## Updated by James Henstridge
-## ------------------------
-
-# Copyright (C) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
-# Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-
-# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
-# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
-# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option)
-# any later version.
-
-# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-# GNU General Public License for more details.
-
-# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
-# Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA
-# 02111-1307, USA.
-
-# AM_PATH_PYTHON([MINIMUM-VERSION], [ACTION-IF-FOUND], [ACTION-IF-NOT-FOUND])
-
-# Adds support for distributing Python modules and packages.  To
-# install modules, copy them to $(pythondir), using the python_PYTHON
-# automake variable.  To install a package with the same name as the
-# automake package, install to $(pkgpythondir), or use the
-# pkgpython_PYTHON automake variable.
-
-# The variables $(pyexecdir) and $(pkgpyexecdir) are provided as
-# locations to install python extension modules (shared libraries).
-# Another macro is required to find the appropriate flags to compile
-# extension modules.
-
-# If your package is configured with a different prefix to python,
-# users will have to add the install directory to the PYTHONPATH
-# environment variable, or create a .pth file (see the python
-# documentation for details).
-
-# If the MINIMUM-VERSION argument is passed, AM_PATH_PYTHON will
-# cause an error if the version of python installed on the system
-# doesn't meet the requirement.  MINIMUM-VERSION should consist of
-# numbers and dots only.
-
-AC_DEFUN([AM_PATH_PYTHON],
- [
-  dnl Find a Python interpreter.  Python versions prior to 1.5 are not
-  dnl supported because the default installation locations changed from
-  dnl $prefix/lib/site-python in 1.4 to $prefix/lib/python1.5/site-packages
-  dnl in 1.5.
-  m4_define_default([_AM_PYTHON_INTERPRETER_LIST],
-                    [python python2 python2.4 python2.3 python2.2 dnl
-python2.1 python2.0 python1.6 python1.5])
-
-  m4_if([$1],[],[
-    dnl No version check is needed.
-    # Find any Python interpreter.
-    if test -z "$PYTHON"; then
-      AC_PATH_PROGS([PYTHON], _AM_PYTHON_INTERPRETER_LIST, :)
-    fi
-    am_display_PYTHON=python
-  ], [
-    dnl A version check is needed.
-    if test -n "$PYTHON"; then
-      # If the user set $PYTHON, use it and don't search something else.
-      AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether $PYTHON version >= $1])
-      AM_PYTHON_CHECK_VERSION([$PYTHON], [$1],
-			      [AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)],
-			      [AC_MSG_ERROR(too old)])
-      am_display_PYTHON=$PYTHON
-    else
-      # Otherwise, try each interpreter until we find one that satisfies
-      # VERSION.
-      AC_CACHE_CHECK([for a Python interpreter with version >= $1],
-	[am_cv_pathless_PYTHON],[
-	for am_cv_pathless_PYTHON in _AM_PYTHON_INTERPRETER_LIST none; do
-	  test "$am_cv_pathless_PYTHON" = none && break
-	  AM_PYTHON_CHECK_VERSION([$am_cv_pathless_PYTHON], [$1], [break])
-	done])
-      # Set $PYTHON to the absolute path of $am_cv_pathless_PYTHON.
-      if test "$am_cv_pathless_PYTHON" = none; then
-	PYTHON=:
-      else
-        AC_PATH_PROG([PYTHON], [$am_cv_pathless_PYTHON])
-      fi
-      am_display_PYTHON=$am_cv_pathless_PYTHON
-    fi
-  ])
-
-  if test "$PYTHON" = :; then
-  dnl Run any user-specified action, or abort.
-    m4_default([$3], [AC_MSG_ERROR([no suitable Python interpreter found])])
-  else
-
-  dnl Query Python for its version number.  Getting [:3] seems to be
-  dnl the best way to do this; it's what "site.py" does in the standard
-  dnl library.
-
-  AC_CACHE_CHECK([for $am_display_PYTHON version], [am_cv_python_version],
-    [am_cv_python_version=`$PYTHON -c "import sys; print sys.version[[:3]]"`])
-  AC_SUBST([PYTHON_VERSION], [$am_cv_python_version])
-
-  dnl Use the values of $prefix and $exec_prefix for the corresponding
-  dnl values of PYTHON_PREFIX and PYTHON_EXEC_PREFIX.  These are made
-  dnl distinct variables so they can be overridden if need be.  However,
-  dnl general consensus is that you shouldn't need this ability.
-
-  AC_SUBST([PYTHON_PREFIX], ['${prefix}'])
-  AC_SUBST([PYTHON_EXEC_PREFIX], ['${exec_prefix}'])
-
-  dnl At times (like when building shared libraries) you may want
-  dnl to know which OS platform Python thinks this is.
-
-  AC_CACHE_CHECK([for $am_display_PYTHON platform], [am_cv_python_platform],
-    [am_cv_python_platform=`$PYTHON -c "import sys; print sys.platform"`])
-  AC_SUBST([PYTHON_PLATFORM], [$am_cv_python_platform])
-
-
-  dnl Set up 4 directories:
-
-  dnl pythondir -- where to install python scripts.  This is the
-  dnl   site-packages directory, not the python standard library
-  dnl   directory like in previous automake betas.  This behavior
-  dnl   is more consistent with lispdir.m4 for example.
-  dnl Query distutils for this directory.  distutils does not exist in
-  dnl Python 1.5, so we fall back to the hardcoded directory if it
-  dnl doesn't work.
-  AC_CACHE_CHECK([for $am_display_PYTHON script directory],
-    [am_cv_python_pythondir],
-    [am_cv_python_pythondir=`$PYTHON -c "from distutils import sysconfig; print sysconfig.get_python_lib(0,0,prefix='$PYTHON_PREFIX')" 2>/dev/null ||
-     echo "$PYTHON_PREFIX/lib/python$PYTHON_VERSION/site-packages"`])
-  AC_SUBST([pythondir], [$am_cv_python_pythondir])
-
-  dnl pkgpythondir -- $PACKAGE directory under pythondir.  Was
-  dnl   PYTHON_SITE_PACKAGE in previous betas, but this naming is
-  dnl   more consistent with the rest of automake.
-
-  AC_SUBST([pkgpythondir], [\${pythondir}/$PACKAGE])
-
-  dnl pyexecdir -- directory for installing python extension modules
-  dnl   (shared libraries)
-  dnl Query distutils for this directory.  distutils does not exist in
-  dnl Python 1.5, so we fall back to the hardcoded directory if it
-  dnl doesn't work.
-  AC_CACHE_CHECK([for $am_display_PYTHON extension module directory],
-    [am_cv_python_pyexecdir],
-    [am_cv_python_pyexecdir=`$PYTHON -c "from distutils import sysconfig; print sysconfig.get_python_lib(1,0,prefix='$PYTHON_EXEC_PREFIX')" 2>/dev/null ||
-     echo "${PYTHON_EXEC_PREFIX}/lib/python${PYTHON_VERSION}/site-packages"`])
-  AC_SUBST([pyexecdir], [$am_cv_python_pyexecdir])
-
-  dnl pkgpyexecdir -- $(pyexecdir)/$(PACKAGE)
-
-  AC_SUBST([pkgpyexecdir], [\${pyexecdir}/$PACKAGE])
-
-  dnl Run any user-specified action.
-  $2
-  fi
-
-])
-
-
-# AM_PYTHON_CHECK_VERSION(PROG, VERSION, [ACTION-IF-TRUE], [ACTION-IF-FALSE])
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Run ACTION-IF-TRUE if the Python interpreter PROG has version >= VERSION.
-# Run ACTION-IF-FALSE otherwise.
-# This test uses sys.hexversion instead of the string equivalent (first
-# word of sys.version), in order to cope with versions such as 2.2c1.
-# hexversion has been introduced in Python 1.5.2; it's probably not
-# worth to support older versions (1.5.1 was released on October 31, 1998).
-AC_DEFUN([AM_PYTHON_CHECK_VERSION],
- [prog="import sys, string
-# split strings by '.' and convert to numeric.  Append some zeros
-# because we need at least 4 digits for the hex conversion.
-minver = map(int, string.split('$2', '.')) + [[0, 0, 0]]
-minverhex = 0
-for i in xrange(0, 4): minverhex = (minverhex << 8) + minver[[i]]
-sys.exit(sys.hexversion < minverhex)"
-  AS_IF([AM_RUN_LOG([$1 -c "$prog"])], [$3], [$4])])
diff --git a/pythondev.m4 b/pythondev.m4
deleted file mode 100644
index 532f418..0000000
--- a/pythondev.m4
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-## Find the install dirs for the python installation.
-##  By James Henstridge
-
-dnl a macro to check for ability to create python extensions
-dnl  AM_CHECK_PYTHON_HEADERS([ACTION-IF-POSSIBLE], [ACTION-IF-NOT-POSSIBLE])
-dnl function also defines PYTHON_INCLUDES
-AC_DEFUN([AM_CHECK_PYTHON_HEADERS],
-[AC_REQUIRE([AM_PATH_PYTHON])
-AC_MSG_CHECKING(for headers required to compile python extensions)
-dnl deduce PYTHON_INCLUDES
-py_prefix=`$PYTHON -c "import sys; print sys.prefix"`
-py_exec_prefix=`$PYTHON -c "import sys; print sys.exec_prefix"`
-PYTHON_INCLUDES="-I${py_prefix}/include/python${PYTHON_VERSION}"
-if test "$py_prefix" != "$py_exec_prefix"; then
-  PYTHON_INCLUDES="$PYTHON_INCLUDES -I${py_exec_prefix}/include/python${PYTHON_VERSION}"
-fi
-AC_SUBST(PYTHON_INCLUDES)
-dnl check if the headers exist:
-save_CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS"
-CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS $PYTHON_INCLUDES"
-AC_TRY_CPP([#include <Python.h>],dnl
-[AC_MSG_RESULT(found)
-$1],dnl
-[AC_MSG_RESULT(not found)
-$2])
-CPPFLAGS="$save_CPPFLAGS"
-])