diff --git a/ase/configure b/ase/configure
index 7a5b84f5..8775f54e 100755
--- a/ase/configure
+++ b/ase/configure
@@ -1981,6 +1981,16 @@ ac_config_sub="$SHELL $ac_aux_dir/config.sub"  # Please don't use this var.
 ac_configure="$SHELL $ac_aux_dir/configure"  # Please don't use this var.
 
 
+
+# Does compilation test using CC and CPP with extension .c for test programs.
+ac_ext=c
+ac_cpp='$CPP $CPPFLAGS'
+ac_compile='$CC -c $CFLAGS $CPPFLAGS conftest.$ac_ext >&5'
+ac_link='$CC -o conftest$ac_exeext $CFLAGS $CPPFLAGS $LDFLAGS conftest.$ac_ext $LIBS >&5'
+ac_compiler_gnu=$ac_cv_c_compiler_gnu
+
+
+# Initializes automake
 am__api_version="1.9"
 # Find a good install program.  We prefer a C program (faster),
 # so one script is as good as another.  But avoid the broken or
@@ -2414,7 +2424,7 @@ am__tar='${AMTAR} chof - "$$tardir"'; am__untar='${AMTAR} xf -'
 
 
 
-# Checks for programs.
+# Determine a C compiler to use
 ac_ext=c
 ac_cpp='$CPP $CPPFLAGS'
 ac_compile='$CC -c $CFLAGS $CPPFLAGS conftest.$ac_ext >&5'
@@ -4306,7 +4316,7 @@ ia64-*-hpux*)
   ;;
 *-*-irix6*)
   # Find out which ABI we are using.
-  echo '#line 4309 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
+  echo '#line 4319 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
   if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
   (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
   ac_status=$?
@@ -7038,11 +7048,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:7041: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:7051: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:7045: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:7055: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s "$ac_outfile"; then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
      # So say no if there are warnings other than the usual output.
@@ -7306,11 +7316,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:7309: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:7319: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:7313: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:7323: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s "$ac_outfile"; then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
      # So say no if there are warnings other than the usual output.
@@ -7410,11 +7420,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:7413: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:7423: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>out/conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat out/conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:7417: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:7427: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s out/conftest2.$ac_objext
    then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
@@ -8875,7 +8885,7 @@ linux*)
   libsuff=
   case "$host_cpu" in
   x86_64*|s390x*|powerpc64*)
-    echo '#line 8878 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
+    echo '#line 8888 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
     if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
   (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
   ac_status=$?
@@ -9739,7 +9749,7 @@ else
   lt_dlunknown=0; lt_dlno_uscore=1; lt_dlneed_uscore=2
   lt_status=$lt_dlunknown
   cat > conftest.$ac_ext <<EOF
-#line 9742 "configure"
+#line 9752 "configure"
 #include "confdefs.h"
 
 #if HAVE_DLFCN_H
@@ -9839,7 +9849,7 @@ else
   lt_dlunknown=0; lt_dlno_uscore=1; lt_dlneed_uscore=2
   lt_status=$lt_dlunknown
   cat > conftest.$ac_ext <<EOF
-#line 9842 "configure"
+#line 9852 "configure"
 #include "confdefs.h"
 
 #if HAVE_DLFCN_H
@@ -12178,11 +12188,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:12181: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:12191: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:12185: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:12195: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s "$ac_outfile"; then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
      # So say no if there are warnings other than the usual output.
@@ -12282,11 +12292,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:12285: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:12295: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>out/conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat out/conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:12289: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:12299: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s out/conftest2.$ac_objext
    then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
@@ -12818,7 +12828,7 @@ linux*)
   libsuff=
   case "$host_cpu" in
   x86_64*|s390x*|powerpc64*)
-    echo '#line 12821 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
+    echo '#line 12831 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
     if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
   (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
   ac_status=$?
@@ -13876,11 +13886,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:13879: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:13889: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:13883: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:13893: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s "$ac_outfile"; then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
      # So say no if there are warnings other than the usual output.
@@ -13980,11 +13990,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:13983: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:13993: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>out/conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat out/conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:13987: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:13997: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s out/conftest2.$ac_objext
    then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
@@ -15425,7 +15435,7 @@ linux*)
   libsuff=
   case "$host_cpu" in
   x86_64*|s390x*|powerpc64*)
-    echo '#line 15428 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
+    echo '#line 15438 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
     if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
   (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
   ac_status=$?
@@ -16202,11 +16212,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:16205: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:16215: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:16209: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:16219: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s "$ac_outfile"; then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
      # So say no if there are warnings other than the usual output.
@@ -16470,11 +16480,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:16473: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:16483: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:16477: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:16487: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s "$ac_outfile"; then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
      # So say no if there are warnings other than the usual output.
@@ -16574,11 +16584,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:16577: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:16587: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>out/conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat out/conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:16581: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:16591: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s out/conftest2.$ac_objext
    then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
@@ -18039,7 +18049,7 @@ linux*)
   libsuff=
   case "$host_cpu" in
   x86_64*|s390x*|powerpc64*)
-    echo '#line 18042 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
+    echo '#line 18052 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
     if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
   (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
   ac_status=$?
@@ -19264,6 +19274,7 @@ LIBTOOL='$(SHELL) $(top_builddir)/libtool'
 
 
 
+# Determines a C++ compiler to use
 ac_ext=cpp
 ac_cpp='$CXXCPP $CPPFLAGS'
 ac_compile='$CXX -c $CXXFLAGS $CPPFLAGS conftest.$ac_ext >&5'
@@ -19737,6 +19748,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 
+# Determines if a C++ compiler is available
 # Extract the first word of "$CXX", so it can be a program name with args.
 set dummy $CXX; ac_word=$2
 { echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking for $ac_word" >&5
@@ -19775,6 +19787,8 @@ echo "${ECHO_T}no" >&6; }
 fi
 
 
+# Checks the C++ compiler exists in PATH.
+# if so, create a conditional HAVE_CXX for automake.
 
 
 if test "x${HAVE_CXX}" = "xyes"; then
diff --git a/ase/configure.ac b/ase/configure.ac
index 2f585575..08cbbed9 100644
--- a/ase/configure.ac
+++ b/ase/configure.ac
@@ -6,16 +6,23 @@ AC_PREREQ(2.59)
 AC_INIT([ase],[0.5.0],[bacon@abiyo.net])
 AC_CONFIG_HEADER([include/ase/config.h])
 AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR(autoconf)
+
+# Does compilation test using CC and CPP with extension .c for test programs.
+AC_LANG(C)
+
+# Initializes automake
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([-Wall -Werror foreign])
 
-# Checks for programs.
+# Determine a C compiler to use
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
 
-dnl determine C++ compiler
+# Determines a C++ compiler to use
 AC_PROG_CXX
-dnl check if C++ is available
+# Determines if a C++ compiler is available
 AC_CHECK_PROG(HAVE_CXX, $CXX, yes, no)
+# Checks the C++ compiler exists in PATH. 
+# if so, create a conditional HAVE_CXX for automake.
 AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_CXX, test "x${HAVE_CXX}" = "xyes")
 
 AC_CHECK_TOOL(RANLIB, ranlib)