Configure with Build, Host and Target

• --host: In which system the generated program will run.
• --build: In which system the program will be built.
• --target: this option is only used to build a cross-compiling toolchain. When the tool chain generates executable program, in which target system the program will run.

An example of tslib (a mouse driver library)
'./configure --host=arm-linux --build=i686-pc-linux-gnu':

the dynamically library is built on a x86 linux computer but will be used for a embedded arm linux system.

An example of gcc:

'./configure --target=i686-pc-linux-gnu --host=arm-linux --build=i686-pc-linux-gnu':

• A gcc compiler is build on x86 linux computer. [--build]
• The gcc will be executed on an embedded arm linux system.[--host]
• But the gcc will generate the binary program, which run in a x86 linux system. [--target]

references:

1) http://jingfenghanmax.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/configure-with-host-target-and-build.html

2) http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs//gccint/Configure-Terms.html