From 43ceb98d77b016b3aad4db7a8a2b9307a7c2d834 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2022 23:09:35 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 01/36] set LD to link & add -nologo

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 5 +++--
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 7269fa2f702..492828f0929 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -123,8 +123,9 @@ def defines(self):
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
         if is_msvc(self._conanfile):
-            env.define("CXX", "cl")
-            env.define("CC", "cl")
+            env.define("CXX", "cl -nologo")
+            env.define("CC", "cl -nologo")
+            env.define("LD", "link -nologo")
         env.append("CPPFLAGS", ["-D{}".format(d) for d in self.defines])
         env.append("CXXFLAGS", self.cxxflags)
         env.append("CFLAGS", self.cflags)

From 44ee28cca66e7e02ecdef1073176fad64ef6e96b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2022 23:31:38 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 02/36] honor CC, CXX, LD from profile

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 26 +++++++++++++++++++++-----
 1 file changed, 21 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 492828f0929..30cc4223ce5 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -7,9 +7,10 @@
 from conan.tools.env import Environment
 from conan.tools.files.files import save_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.gnu.get_gnu_triplet import _get_gnu_triplet
-from conan.tools.microsoft import VCVars, is_msvc, msvc_runtime_flag
+from conan.tools.microsoft import VCVars, is_msvc, msvc_runtime_flag, unix_path
 from conans.errors import ConanException
-from conans.tools import args_to_string
+from conans.tools import args_to_string, get_env
+import os
 
 
 class AutotoolsToolchain:
@@ -123,9 +124,24 @@ def defines(self):
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
         if is_msvc(self._conanfile):
-            env.define("CXX", "cl -nologo")
-            env.define("CC", "cl -nologo")
-            env.define("LD", "link -nologo")
+            cc = get_env("CC")
+            if cc and os.path.exists(cc):
+                cc = f"{unix_path(self._conanfile, cc)} -nologo"
+            else:
+                cc = "cl -nologo"
+            env.define("CC", cc)
+            cxx = get_env("CXX")
+            if cxx and os.path.exists(cxx):
+                cxx = f"{unix_path(self._conanfile, cxx)} -nologo"
+            else:
+                cxx = "cl -nologo"
+            env.define("CXX", cxx)
+            ld = get_env("CXX")
+            if ld and os.path.exists(ld):
+                ld = f"{unix_path(self._conanfile, ld)} -nologo"
+            else:
+                ld = "link -nologo"
+            env.define("LD", ld)
         env.append("CPPFLAGS", ["-D{}".format(d) for d in self.defines])
         env.append("CXXFLAGS", self.cxxflags)
         env.append("CFLAGS", self.cflags)

From bbc8cf7a38d98b880d552a55537f17b93458cc13 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:10 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 03/36] handle more cases on windows

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 41 ++++++++++++++++++++-------
 1 file changed, 31 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 30cc4223ce5..6031647af8a 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -123,25 +123,46 @@ def defines(self):
 
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
+
+        # Specific compiler & linker handling on Windows
+        if hasattr(self._conanfile, "settings_build"):
+            os_build = self._conanfile.settings_build.get_safe("os")
+        else:
+            os_build = self._conanfile.settings.get_safe("os")
         if is_msvc(self._conanfile):
             cc = get_env("CC")
             if cc and os.path.exists(cc):
-                cc = f"{unix_path(self._conanfile, cc)} -nologo"
+                cc = unix_path(self._conanfile, cc)
             else:
-                cc = "cl -nologo"
-            env.define("CC", cc)
+                cc = "cl"
+            env.define("CC", f"{cc} -nologo")
+
             cxx = get_env("CXX")
             if cxx and os.path.exists(cxx):
-                cxx = f"{unix_path(self._conanfile, cxx)} -nologo"
+                cxx = unix_path(self._conanfile, cxx)
             else:
-                cxx = "cl -nologo"
-            env.define("CXX", cxx)
-            ld = get_env("CXX")
+                cxx = "cl"
+            env.define("CXX", f"{cxx} -nologo")
+
+            ld = get_env("LD")
             if ld and os.path.exists(ld):
-                ld = f"{unix_path(self._conanfile, ld)} -nologo"
+                ld = unix_path(self._conanfile, ld)
             else:
-                ld = "link -nologo"
-            env.define("LD", ld)
+                ld = "link"
+            env.define("LD", f"{ld} -nologo")
+        elif os_build == "Windows":
+            cc = get_env("CC")
+            if cc and os.path.exists(cc):
+                env.define("CC", unix_path(self._conanfile, cc))
+
+            cxx = get_env("CXX")
+            if cxx and os.path.exists(cxx):
+                env.define("CXX", unix_path(self._conanfile, cxx))
+
+            ld = get_env("LD")
+            if ld and os.path.exists(ld):
+                env.define("LD", unix_path(self._conanfile, ld))
+
         env.append("CPPFLAGS", ["-D{}".format(d) for d in self.defines])
         env.append("CXXFLAGS", self.cxxflags)
         env.append("CFLAGS", self.cflags)

From 73345fad6ba9fc25c3c87ef3c72e4c63a1f0bd34 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 01:22:40 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 04/36] refactor

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 67 +++++++++++++--------------
 1 file changed, 33 insertions(+), 34 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 6031647af8a..0e0cb88c8b1 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -121,47 +121,46 @@ def defines(self):
         ret = [self.ndebug, self.gcc_cxx11_abi] + conf_flags + self.extra_defines
         return self._filter_list_empty_fields(ret)
 
+    def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=[]):
+        """
+            Convenient method to convert env vars like CC, CXX or LD to values compatible with autotools.
+            If env var doesn't exist, returns default.
+        """
+        exe = get_env(env_var)
+        if exe:
+            if os.path.exists(exe):
+                exe = unix_path(self._conanfile, exe)
+        else:
+            exe = default
+        if exe:
+            for option in extra_options:
+                if option not in exe:
+                    exe = f"{exe} {option}"
+        return exe
+
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
 
-        # Specific compiler & linker handling on Windows
+        # On Windows or if compiler is msvc, ensure to properly set CC, CXX and LD:
+        # - convert values from profile (if set) to compatible values
+        # - otherwise set to a good default if compiler is not a first class citizen in autotools
         if hasattr(self._conanfile, "settings_build"):
             os_build = self._conanfile.settings_build.get_safe("os")
         else:
             os_build = self._conanfile.settings.get_safe("os")
-        if is_msvc(self._conanfile):
-            cc = get_env("CC")
-            if cc and os.path.exists(cc):
-                cc = unix_path(self._conanfile, cc)
-            else:
-                cc = "cl"
-            env.define("CC", f"{cc} -nologo")
-
-            cxx = get_env("CXX")
-            if cxx and os.path.exists(cxx):
-                cxx = unix_path(self._conanfile, cxx)
-            else:
-                cxx = "cl"
-            env.define("CXX", f"{cxx} -nologo")
-
-            ld = get_env("LD")
-            if ld and os.path.exists(ld):
-                ld = unix_path(self._conanfile, ld)
-            else:
-                ld = "link"
-            env.define("LD", f"{ld} -nologo")
-        elif os_build == "Windows":
-            cc = get_env("CC")
-            if cc and os.path.exists(cc):
-                env.define("CC", unix_path(self._conanfile, cc))
-
-            cxx = get_env("CXX")
-            if cxx and os.path.exists(cxx):
-                env.define("CXX", unix_path(self._conanfile, cxx))
-
-            ld = get_env("LD")
-            if ld and os.path.exists(ld):
-                env.define("LD", unix_path(self._conanfile, ld))
+        if is_msvc(self._conanfile) or os_build == "Windows":
+            default_compiler = "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
+            default_linker = "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
+            extra_options = ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else []
+            cc = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("CC", default_compiler, extra_options)
+            if cc:
+                env.define("CC", cc)
+            cxx = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("CXX", default_compiler, extra_options)
+            if cxx:
+                env.define("CXX", cxx)
+            ld = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("LD", default_linker, extra_options)
+            if ld:
+                env.define("LD", ld)
 
         env.append("CPPFLAGS", ["-D{}".format(d) for d in self.defines])
         env.append("CXXFLAGS", self.cxxflags)

From dddfa507354d99bb955a96c1d8edcbb006e49b13 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 10:33:06 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 05/36] also handle NM

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 32 ++++++++++++++++++---------
 1 file changed, 22 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 0e0cb88c8b1..41b2930f6cd 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=[]):
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
 
-        # On Windows or if compiler is msvc, ensure to properly set CC, CXX and LD:
+        # On Windows or if compiler is msvc, ensure to properly set CC, CXX, LD and NM:
         # - convert values from profile (if set) to compatible values
         # - otherwise set to a good default if compiler is not a first class citizen in autotools
         if hasattr(self._conanfile, "settings_build"):
@@ -149,18 +149,30 @@ def environment(self):
         else:
             os_build = self._conanfile.settings.get_safe("os")
         if is_msvc(self._conanfile) or os_build == "Windows":
-            default_compiler = "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
-            default_linker = "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
-            extra_options = ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else []
-            cc = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("CC", default_compiler, extra_options)
-            if cc:
+            default = {
+                "CC": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                "CXX": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                "LD": "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                "NM": "dumpbin" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+            }
+            extra_options = {
+                "CC": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                "CXX": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                "LD": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                "NM": ["-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else []
+            }
+            cc = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("CC", default["CC"], extra_options["CC"])
+            if cc and cc != get_env("CC"):
                 env.define("CC", cc)
-            cxx = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("CXX", default_compiler, extra_options)
-            if cxx:
+            cxx = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("CXX", default["CXX"], extra_options["CXX"])
+            if cxx and cxx != get_env("CC"):
                 env.define("CXX", cxx)
-            ld = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("LD", default_linker, extra_options)
-            if ld:
+            ld = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("LD", default["LD"], extra_options["LD"])
+            if ld and ld != get_env("CC"):
                 env.define("LD", ld)
+            nm = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("NM", default["NM"], extra_options["NM"])
+            if nm and nm != get_env("NM"):
+                env.define("NM", nm)
 
         env.append("CPPFLAGS", ["-D{}".format(d) for d in self.defines])
         env.append("CXXFLAGS", self.cxxflags)

From 1eed250448a6585c4a94a1958806cce894ae29fb Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 10:36:35 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 06/36] refactor again

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 20 ++++++++------------
 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 12 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 41b2930f6cd..a6bc500da55 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -161,18 +161,14 @@ def environment(self):
                 "LD": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
                 "NM": ["-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else []
             }
-            cc = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("CC", default["CC"], extra_options["CC"])
-            if cc and cc != get_env("CC"):
-                env.define("CC", cc)
-            cxx = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("CXX", default["CXX"], extra_options["CXX"])
-            if cxx and cxx != get_env("CC"):
-                env.define("CXX", cxx)
-            ld = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("LD", default["LD"], extra_options["LD"])
-            if ld and ld != get_env("CC"):
-                env.define("LD", ld)
-            nm = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path("NM", default["NM"], extra_options["NM"])
-            if nm and nm != get_env("NM"):
-                env.define("NM", nm)
+            for env_var in ["CC", "CXX", "LD", "NM"]:
+                new_env_var = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
+                    env_var,
+                    default.get(env_var),
+                    extra_options.get(env_var, []),
+                )
+                if new_env_var and new_env_var != get_env(env_var):
+                    env.define(env_var, new_env_var)
 
         env.append("CPPFLAGS", ["-D{}".format(d) for d in self.defines])
         env.append("CXXFLAGS", self.cxxflags)

From 6b69fd25533ac8dd49dcff207cf0edb72f3fa0f2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 10:56:04 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 07/36] formatting

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index a6bc500da55..99c755ec4fa 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def environment(self):
                 "CC": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
                 "CXX": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
                 "LD": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-                "NM": ["-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else []
+                "NM": ["-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
             }
             for env_var in ["CC", "CXX", "LD", "NM"]:
                 new_env_var = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(

From 6b7743c7f3989748aa0fcce2dd5af22813efee30 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 11:12:36 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 08/36] also handle AR

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 8 +++++---
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 99c755ec4fa..e1276a6539d 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=[]):
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
 
-        # On Windows or if compiler is msvc, ensure to properly set CC, CXX, LD and NM:
+        # On Windows or if compiler is msvc, ensure to properly set vars like CC & CXX:
         # - convert values from profile (if set) to compatible values
         # - otherwise set to a good default if compiler is not a first class citizen in autotools
         if hasattr(self._conanfile, "settings_build"):
@@ -153,15 +153,17 @@ def environment(self):
                 "CC": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
                 "CXX": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
                 "LD": "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                "AR": "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
                 "NM": "dumpbin" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
             }
             extra_options = {
                 "CC": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
                 "CXX": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
                 "LD": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-                "NM": ["-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                "AR": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                "NM": ["-nologo", "-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
             }
-            for env_var in ["CC", "CXX", "LD", "NM"]:
+            for env_var in ["CC", "CXX", "LD", "AR", "NM"]:
                 new_env_var = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
                     env_var,
                     default.get(env_var),

From 9977d8335ec3f72f5524b500e5bd5c192a5a160e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 12:17:10 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 09/36] refactor again

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 40 ++++++++++++++++-----------
 1 file changed, 24 insertions(+), 16 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index e1276a6539d..8b58f04e475 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -149,25 +149,33 @@ def environment(self):
         else:
             os_build = self._conanfile.settings.get_safe("os")
         if is_msvc(self._conanfile) or os_build == "Windows":
-            default = {
-                "CC": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                "CXX": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                "LD": "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                "AR": "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                "NM": "dumpbin" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+            env_vars = {
+                "CC": {
+                    "default": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                    "extra_options": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                },
+                "CXX": {
+                    "default": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                    "extra_options": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                },
+                "LD": {
+                    "default": "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                    "extra_options": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                },
+                "AR": {
+                    "default": "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                    "extra_options": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                },
+                "NM": {
+                    "default": "dumpbin" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                    "extra_options": ["-nologo", "-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                },
             }
-            extra_options = {
-                "CC": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-                "CXX": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-                "LD": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-                "AR": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-                "NM": ["-nologo", "-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-            }
-            for env_var in ["CC", "CXX", "LD", "AR", "NM"]:
+            for env_var, env_var_values in env_vars.items():
                 new_env_var = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
                     env_var,
-                    default.get(env_var),
-                    extra_options.get(env_var, []),
+                    env_var_values.get("default"),
+                    env_var_values.get("extra_options", []),
                 )
                 if new_env_var and new_env_var != get_env(env_var):
                     env.define(env_var, new_env_var)

From 73c2e196b98ed14761a556c33c35d84ab45e7612 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 12:39:16 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 10/36] small change

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 8b58f04e475..e13962f5923 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=[]):
         if exe:
             for option in extra_options:
                 if option not in exe:
-                    exe = f"{exe} {option}"
+                    exe += f" {option}"
         return exe
 
     def environment(self):

From 6e9295b571801e83f3d423cbfea0e572a8b0fdb4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 13:34:15 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 11/36] add more variables

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 10 ++++++++++
 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index e13962f5923..b67862d0196 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ def environment(self):
         # On Windows or if compiler is msvc, ensure to properly set vars like CC & CXX:
         # - convert values from profile (if set) to compatible values
         # - otherwise set to a good default if compiler is not a first class citizen in autotools
+        # TODO: handle clang-cl
         if hasattr(self._conanfile, "settings_build"):
             os_build = self._conanfile.settings_build.get_safe("os")
         else:
@@ -170,6 +171,15 @@ def environment(self):
                     "default": "dumpbin" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
                     "extra_options": ["-nologo", "-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
                 },
+                "OBJDUMP": {
+                    "default": ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                },
+                "RANLIB": {
+                    "default": ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                },
+                "STRIP": {
+                    "default": ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+                },
             }
             for env_var, env_var_values in env_vars.items():
                 new_env_var = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(

From 3ad51c3ba50872c0a56fae10b715f5331a1a9e29 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 14:41:01 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 12/36] add comments

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 5 +++++
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index b67862d0196..fbc38c72ab1 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -144,6 +144,11 @@ def environment(self):
         # On Windows or if compiler is msvc, ensure to properly set vars like CC & CXX:
         # - convert values from profile (if set) to compatible values
         # - otherwise set to a good default if compiler is not a first class citizen in autotools
+        # msvc: see https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/automake/2011-09/msg00002.html
+        # TODO: for msvc, allow users to prefix:
+        #       - CC & CXX with path of compile script from automake
+        #       - AR with with path of ar-lib script from automake
+        #       Or provide these scripts in conan client?
         # TODO: handle clang-cl
         if hasattr(self._conanfile, "settings_build"):
             os_build = self._conanfile.settings_build.get_safe("os")

From 305783bafc5a49ad89213db3710551057ec2f8ad Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 17:54:36 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 13/36] add two new attributes to prefix CC, CXX & ARLIB with
 compatibility wrappers

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 18 +++++++++++++-----
 1 file changed, 13 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index fbc38c72ab1..e457b67e538 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None):
         self.fpic = self._conanfile.options.get_safe("fPIC")
         self.msvc_runtime_flag = self._get_msvc_runtime_flag()
 
+        # Wrappers paths for windows tools not compatible with autotools, like msvc
+        self.compile_wrapper = None
+        self.arlib_wrapper = None
+
         # Cross build
         self._host = None
         self._build = None
@@ -121,7 +125,7 @@ def defines(self):
         ret = [self.ndebug, self.gcc_cxx11_abi] + conf_flags + self.extra_defines
         return self._filter_list_empty_fields(ret)
 
-    def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=[]):
+    def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=[], wrapper=None):
         """
             Convenient method to convert env vars like CC, CXX or LD to values compatible with autotools.
             If env var doesn't exist, returns default.
@@ -133,6 +137,10 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=[]):
         else:
             exe = default
         if exe:
+            if wrapper:
+                if os.path.exists(wrapper):
+                    wrapper = unix_path(self._conanfile, wrapper)
+                exe = f"{wrapper} {exe}"
             for option in extra_options:
                 if option not in exe:
                     exe += f" {option}"
@@ -145,10 +153,6 @@ def environment(self):
         # - convert values from profile (if set) to compatible values
         # - otherwise set to a good default if compiler is not a first class citizen in autotools
         # msvc: see https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/automake/2011-09/msg00002.html
-        # TODO: for msvc, allow users to prefix:
-        #       - CC & CXX with path of compile script from automake
-        #       - AR with with path of ar-lib script from automake
-        #       Or provide these scripts in conan client?
         # TODO: handle clang-cl
         if hasattr(self._conanfile, "settings_build"):
             os_build = self._conanfile.settings_build.get_safe("os")
@@ -159,10 +163,12 @@ def environment(self):
                 "CC": {
                     "default": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
                     "extra_options": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                    "wrapper": self.compile_wrapper,
                 },
                 "CXX": {
                     "default": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
                     "extra_options": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                    "wrapper": self.compile_wrapper,
                 },
                 "LD": {
                     "default": "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
@@ -171,6 +177,7 @@ def environment(self):
                 "AR": {
                     "default": "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
                     "extra_options": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+                    "wrapper": self.arlib_wrapper,
                 },
                 "NM": {
                     "default": "dumpbin" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
@@ -191,6 +198,7 @@ def environment(self):
                     env_var,
                     env_var_values.get("default"),
                     env_var_values.get("extra_options", []),
+                    env_var_values.get("wrapper"),
                 )
                 if new_env_var and new_env_var != get_env(env_var):
                     env.define(env_var, new_env_var)

From fc3c72c6abda1da24951483bf251cf444b28d237 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 19:36:38 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 14/36] add cc, cxx, ld, ar, nm, objdump, ranlib & trip
 attributes

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 143 ++++++++++++++++----------
 1 file changed, 87 insertions(+), 56 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index e457b67e538..61d5880c0ad 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -44,7 +44,17 @@ def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None):
         self.fpic = self._conanfile.options.get_safe("fPIC")
         self.msvc_runtime_flag = self._get_msvc_runtime_flag()
 
-        # Wrappers paths for windows tools not compatible with autotools, like msvc
+        # standard build toolchains env vars
+        self.cc = self._cc
+        self.cxx = self._cxx
+        self.ld = self._ld
+        self.ar = self._ar
+        self.nm = self._nm
+        self.objdump = self._objdump
+        self.ranlib = self._ranlib
+        self.strip = self._strip
+
+        # Wrappers paths for tools not compatible with autotools, like msvc
         self.compile_wrapper = None
         self.arlib_wrapper = None
 
@@ -125,6 +135,70 @@ def defines(self):
         ret = [self.ndebug, self.gcc_cxx11_abi] + conf_flags + self.extra_defines
         return self._filter_list_empty_fields(ret)
 
+    @property
+    def _cc(self):
+        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
+            "CC",
+            "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+            ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+            self.compile_wrapper,
+        )
+
+    @property
+    def _cxx(self):
+        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
+            "CXX",
+            "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+            ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+            self.compile_wrapper,
+        )
+
+    @property
+    def _ld(self):
+        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
+            "LD",
+            "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+            ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+        )
+
+    @property
+    def _ar(self):
+        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
+            "AR",
+            "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+            ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+            self.arlib_wrapper,
+        )
+
+    @property
+    def _nm(self):
+        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
+            "NM",
+            "dumpbin" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+            ["-nologo", "-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+        )
+
+    @property
+    def _objdump(self):
+        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
+            "OBJDUMP",
+            ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+        )
+
+    @property
+    def _ranlib(self):
+        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
+            "RANLIB",
+            ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+        )
+
+    @property
+    def _strip(self):
+        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
+            "STRIP",
+            ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
+        )
+
     def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=[], wrapper=None):
         """
             Convenient method to convert env vars like CC, CXX or LD to values compatible with autotools.
@@ -148,61 +222,18 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=[], wra
 
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
-
-        # On Windows or if compiler is msvc, ensure to properly set vars like CC & CXX:
-        # - convert values from profile (if set) to compatible values
-        # - otherwise set to a good default if compiler is not a first class citizen in autotools
-        # msvc: see https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/automake/2011-09/msg00002.html
-        # TODO: handle clang-cl
-        if hasattr(self._conanfile, "settings_build"):
-            os_build = self._conanfile.settings_build.get_safe("os")
-        else:
-            os_build = self._conanfile.settings.get_safe("os")
-        if is_msvc(self._conanfile) or os_build == "Windows":
-            env_vars = {
-                "CC": {
-                    "default": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                    "extra_options": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-                    "wrapper": self.compile_wrapper,
-                },
-                "CXX": {
-                    "default": "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                    "extra_options": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-                    "wrapper": self.compile_wrapper,
-                },
-                "LD": {
-                    "default": "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                    "extra_options": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-                },
-                "AR": {
-                    "default": "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                    "extra_options": ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-                    "wrapper": self.arlib_wrapper,
-                },
-                "NM": {
-                    "default": "dumpbin" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                    "extra_options": ["-nologo", "-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-                },
-                "OBJDUMP": {
-                    "default": ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                },
-                "RANLIB": {
-                    "default": ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                },
-                "STRIP": {
-                    "default": ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-                },
-            }
-            for env_var, env_var_values in env_vars.items():
-                new_env_var = self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
-                    env_var,
-                    env_var_values.get("default"),
-                    env_var_values.get("extra_options", []),
-                    env_var_values.get("wrapper"),
-                )
-                if new_env_var and new_env_var != get_env(env_var):
-                    env.define(env_var, new_env_var)
-
+        for env_var, new_env_var_value in [
+            ("CC", self.cc),
+            ("CXX", self.cxx),
+            ("LD", self.ld),
+            ("AR", self.ar),
+            ("NM", self.nm),
+            ("OBJDUMP", self.objdump),
+            ("RANLIB", self.ranlib),
+            ("STRIP", self.strip),
+        ]:
+            if new_env_var_value and new_env_var_value != get_env(env_var):
+                env.define(env_var, new_env_var_value)
         env.append("CPPFLAGS", ["-D{}".format(d) for d in self.defines])
         env.append("CXXFLAGS", self.cxxflags)
         env.append("CFLAGS", self.cflags)

From 40fdb2000fd727a4f2f1309c3fb848910b2cb0d8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 20:09:43 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 15/36] add compiler_wrapper & arlib_wrapper to arguments of
 constructor

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 54 +++++++++++----------------
 1 file changed, 22 insertions(+), 32 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 61d5880c0ad..e28e68c0559 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -14,9 +14,11 @@
 
 
 class AutotoolsToolchain:
-    def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None):
+    def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None, compiler_wrapper=None, arlib_wrapper=None):
         self._conanfile = conanfile
         self._namespace = namespace
+        self._compile_wrapper = compiler_wrapper
+        self._arlib_wrapper = arlib_wrapper
 
         self.configure_args = self._default_configure_shared_flags() + self._default_configure_install_flags()
         self.autoreconf_args = self._default_autoreconf_flags()
@@ -45,18 +47,14 @@ def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None):
         self.msvc_runtime_flag = self._get_msvc_runtime_flag()
 
         # standard build toolchains env vars
-        self.cc = self._cc
-        self.cxx = self._cxx
-        self.ld = self._ld
-        self.ar = self._ar
-        self.nm = self._nm
-        self.objdump = self._objdump
-        self.ranlib = self._ranlib
-        self.strip = self._strip
-
-        # Wrappers paths for tools not compatible with autotools, like msvc
-        self.compile_wrapper = None
-        self.arlib_wrapper = None
+        self.cc = self._get_cc()
+        self.cxx = self._get_cxx()
+        self.ld = self._get_ld()
+        self.ar = self._get_ar()
+        self.nm = self._get_nm()
+        self.objdump = self._get_objdump()
+        self.ranlib = self._get_ranlib()
+        self.strip = self._get_strip()
 
         # Cross build
         self._host = None
@@ -135,65 +133,57 @@ def defines(self):
         ret = [self.ndebug, self.gcc_cxx11_abi] + conf_flags + self.extra_defines
         return self._filter_list_empty_fields(ret)
 
-    @property
-    def _cc(self):
+    def _get_cc(self):
         return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
             "CC",
             "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
             ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-            self.compile_wrapper,
+            self._compile_wrapper,
         )
 
-    @property
-    def _cxx(self):
+    def _get_cxx(self):
         return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
             "CXX",
             "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
             ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-            self.compile_wrapper,
+            self._compile_wrapper,
         )
 
-    @property
-    def _ld(self):
+    def _get_ld(self):
         return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
             "LD",
             "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
             ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
         )
 
-    @property
-    def _ar(self):
+    def _get_ar(self):
         return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
             "AR",
             "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
             ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-            self.arlib_wrapper,
+            self._arlib_wrapper,
         )
 
-    @property
-    def _nm(self):
+    def _get_nm(self):
         return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
             "NM",
             "dumpbin" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
             ["-nologo", "-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
         )
 
-    @property
-    def _objdump(self):
+    def _get_objdump(self):
         return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
             "OBJDUMP",
             ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
         )
 
-    @property
-    def _ranlib(self):
+    def _get_ranlib(self):
         return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
             "RANLIB",
             ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
         )
 
-    @property
-    def _strip(self):
+    def _get_strip(self):
         return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
             "STRIP",
             ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,

From f03d98dbdf0e399f0555416f5de7eece3d52fcd4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 20:41:56 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 16/36] default extra_options to None

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 9 +++++----
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index e28e68c0559..f6bd1f392eb 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def _get_strip(self):
             ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
         )
 
-    def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=[], wrapper=None):
+    def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=None, wrapper=None):
         """
             Convenient method to convert env vars like CC, CXX or LD to values compatible with autotools.
             If env var doesn't exist, returns default.
@@ -205,9 +205,10 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=[], wra
                 if os.path.exists(wrapper):
                     wrapper = unix_path(self._conanfile, wrapper)
                 exe = f"{wrapper} {exe}"
-            for option in extra_options:
-                if option not in exe:
-                    exe += f" {option}"
+            if extra_options:
+                for option in extra_options:
+                    if option not in exe:
+                        exe += f" {option}"
         return exe
 
     def environment(self):

From c160c7bb3eaa928cc4fec6f3df983b10207341f3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 21:07:23 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 17/36] typo

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 4 ++--
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index f6bd1f392eb..05a18459651 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@
 
 
 class AutotoolsToolchain:
-    def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None, compiler_wrapper=None, arlib_wrapper=None):
+    def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None, compile_wrapper=None, arlib_wrapper=None):
         self._conanfile = conanfile
         self._namespace = namespace
-        self._compile_wrapper = compiler_wrapper
+        self._compile_wrapper = compile_wrapper
         self._arlib_wrapper = arlib_wrapper
 
         self.configure_args = self._default_configure_shared_flags() + self._default_configure_install_flags()

From a81f43adbe2f59d42b916579687d4a62b7e3180c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 21:13:20 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 18/36] rename to arlib_wrapper to ar_wrapper

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 6 +++---
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 05a18459651..82203da158c 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@
 
 
 class AutotoolsToolchain:
-    def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None, compile_wrapper=None, arlib_wrapper=None):
+    def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None, compile_wrapper=None, ar_wrapper=None):
         self._conanfile = conanfile
         self._namespace = namespace
         self._compile_wrapper = compile_wrapper
-        self._arlib_wrapper = arlib_wrapper
+        self._ar_wrapper = ar_wrapper
 
         self.configure_args = self._default_configure_shared_flags() + self._default_configure_install_flags()
         self.autoreconf_args = self._default_autoreconf_flags()
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ def _get_ar(self):
             "AR",
             "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
             ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-            self._arlib_wrapper,
+            self._ar_wrapper,
         )
 
     def _get_nm(self):

From 6a415fd41fc08279b929a6bf2498eddfc376ca89 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 22:13:29 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 19/36] use VirtualBuildEnv to get env vars from profile

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 9 +++++----
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 82203da158c..e95a6adf40f 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 from conan.tools.apple.apple import apple_min_version_flag, to_apple_arch, \
     apple_sdk_path
 from conan.tools.build.cross_building import cross_building, get_cross_building_settings
-from conan.tools.env import Environment
+from conan.tools.env import Environment, VirtualBuildEnv
 from conan.tools.files.files import save_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.gnu.get_gnu_triplet import _get_gnu_triplet
 from conan.tools.microsoft import VCVars, is_msvc, msvc_runtime_flag, unix_path
 from conans.errors import ConanException
-from conans.tools import args_to_string, get_env
+from conans.tools import args_to_string
 import os
 
 
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=None, w
             Convenient method to convert env vars like CC, CXX or LD to values compatible with autotools.
             If env var doesn't exist, returns default.
         """
-        exe = get_env(env_var)
+        exe = VirtualBuildEnv(self._conanfile).vars().get(env_var)
         if exe:
             if os.path.exists(exe):
                 exe = unix_path(self._conanfile, exe)
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=None, w
 
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
+        build_env = VirtualBuildEnv(self._conanfile).vars()
         for env_var, new_env_var_value in [
             ("CC", self.cc),
             ("CXX", self.cxx),
@@ -223,7 +224,7 @@ def environment(self):
             ("RANLIB", self.ranlib),
             ("STRIP", self.strip),
         ]:
-            if new_env_var_value and new_env_var_value != get_env(env_var):
+            if new_env_var_value and new_env_var_value != build_env.get(env_var):
                 env.define(env_var, new_env_var_value)
         env.append("CPPFLAGS", ["-D{}".format(d) for d in self.defines])
         env.append("CXXFLAGS", self.cxxflags)

From 746bff5cde1a3cfb3d0fd07bac4605fdc7da8d12 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 22:14:09 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 20/36] do not add -nologo to AR if msvc

ar-lib wrapper doesn't seem to like extra options
---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index e95a6adf40f..d2387aa4999 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ def _get_ar(self):
         return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
             "AR",
             "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-            ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
+            None, # do not add any option, ar wrapper may not like this
             self._ar_wrapper,
         )
 

From ea62645100a12826ef75a86372aadf5bc8542bd2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2022 22:34:47 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 21/36] don't check existence of wrapper

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 4 +---
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index d2387aa4999..8cf169f7417 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -202,9 +202,7 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=None, w
             exe = default
         if exe:
             if wrapper:
-                if os.path.exists(wrapper):
-                    wrapper = unix_path(self._conanfile, wrapper)
-                exe = f"{wrapper} {exe}"
+                exe = f"{unix_path(self._conanfile, wrapper)} {exe}"
             if extra_options:
                 for option in extra_options:
                     if option not in exe:

From a2a2a5db4e2f1d2811c69256191b21c2ff5ac143 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2022 00:00:29 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 22/36] do not allow spaces in env var paths for autotools

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 6 ++++++
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 8cf169f7417..4c6e2d653b9 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -198,6 +198,12 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=None, w
         if exe:
             if os.path.exists(exe):
                 exe = unix_path(self._conanfile, exe)
+            if " " in exe:
+                self._conanfile.output.warn(
+                    f"AutotoolsToolchain {env_var} management: {exe} contains spaces, "
+                    f"sorry it can't work with autotools, fallback to {default}"
+                )
+                exe = default
         else:
             exe = default
         if exe:

From 7d4adf187021d7d13bdccdcc71bacd7879799c67 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2022 00:00:47 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 23/36] minor change

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 4c6e2d653b9..a5ef8394539 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ def _get_ar(self):
         return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
             "AR",
             "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-            None, # do not add any option, ar wrapper may not like this
+            [], # do not add any option, ar wrapper may not like this
             self._ar_wrapper,
         )
 

From b539767444805a0aa5f6c83c38c12731623ed624 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2022 20:12:17 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 24/36] improve windows support

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py      | 34 ++++++++++++++--------
 conan/tools/microsoft/win32api/__init__.py |  1 +
 conan/tools/microsoft/win32api/win32api.py | 22 ++++++++++++++
 3 files changed, 45 insertions(+), 12 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 conan/tools/microsoft/win32api/__init__.py
 create mode 100644 conan/tools/microsoft/win32api/win32api.py

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index a5ef8394539..6e95860b6f1 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 from conan.tools.files.files import save_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.gnu.get_gnu_triplet import _get_gnu_triplet
 from conan.tools.microsoft import VCVars, is_msvc, msvc_runtime_flag, unix_path
+if os.name == "nt":
+    from conan.tools.microsoft.win32api import win32api
 from conans.errors import ConanException
 from conans.tools import args_to_string
 import os
@@ -160,7 +162,7 @@ def _get_ar(self):
         return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
             "AR",
             "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-            [], # do not add any option, ar wrapper may not like this
+            ["-nologo"],
             self._ar_wrapper,
         )
 
@@ -194,25 +196,26 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=None, w
             Convenient method to convert env vars like CC, CXX or LD to values compatible with autotools.
             If env var doesn't exist, returns default.
         """
-        exe = VirtualBuildEnv(self._conanfile).vars().get(env_var)
+        env_var_value = VirtualBuildEnv(self._conanfile).vars().get(env_var)
+        exe = env_var_value
         if exe:
             if os.path.exists(exe):
+                if " " in exe and os.name == "nt":
+                    exe = win32api.get_short_path_name(exe)
                 exe = unix_path(self._conanfile, exe)
-            if " " in exe:
-                self._conanfile.output.warn(
-                    f"AutotoolsToolchain {env_var} management: {exe} contains spaces, "
-                    f"sorry it can't work with autotools, fallback to {default}"
-                )
-                exe = default
+                if " " in exe:
+                    exe = default
         else:
             exe = default
         if exe:
-            if wrapper:
-                exe = f"{unix_path(self._conanfile, wrapper)} {exe}"
             if extra_options:
                 for option in extra_options:
                     if option not in exe:
                         exe += f" {option}"
+            if wrapper:
+                if extra_options:
+                    exe = f"\"{exe}\""
+                exe = f"{unix_path(self._conanfile, wrapper)} {exe}"
         return exe
 
     def environment(self):
@@ -228,8 +231,15 @@ def environment(self):
             ("RANLIB", self.ranlib),
             ("STRIP", self.strip),
         ]:
-            if new_env_var_value and new_env_var_value != build_env.get(env_var):
-                env.define(env_var, new_env_var_value)
+            if new_env_var_value:
+                previous_env_var_value = build_env.get(env_var)
+                if new_env_var_value != previous_env_var_value:
+                    env.define(env_var, new_env_var_value)
+                    if previous_env_var_value:
+                        self._conanfile.output.info(
+                            f"{self.__class__.__name__}: {env_var} env var set to "
+                            f"{new_env_var_value}, instead of {previous_env_var_value}"
+                        )
         env.append("CPPFLAGS", ["-D{}".format(d) for d in self.defines])
         env.append("CXXFLAGS", self.cxxflags)
         env.append("CFLAGS", self.cflags)
diff --git a/conan/tools/microsoft/win32api/__init__.py b/conan/tools/microsoft/win32api/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b2ffd846363
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conan/tools/microsoft/win32api/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from conan.tools.microsoft.win32api import win32api
diff --git a/conan/tools/microsoft/win32api/win32api.py b/conan/tools/microsoft/win32api/win32api.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2fbe3feab6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/conan/tools/microsoft/win32api/win32api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import os
+
+if os.name == "nt":
+    import ctypes
+    from ctypes import wintypes
+
+
+    def get_short_path_name(path):
+        try:
+            _GetShortPathNameW = ctypes.windll.kernel32.GetShortPathNameW
+            _GetShortPathNameW.argtypes = [wintypes.LPCWSTR, wintypes.LPWSTR, wintypes.DWORD]
+            _GetShortPathNameW.restype = wintypes.DWORD
+            output_buf_size = 0
+            while True:
+                output_buf = ctypes.create_unicode_buffer(output_buf_size)
+                needed = _GetShortPathNameW(path, output_buf, output_buf_size)
+                if output_buf_size >= needed:
+                    return output_buf.value
+                else:
+                    output_buf_size = needed
+        except:
+            return path

From 47b821375b0a1d1a262a1ff414edcbfa71ee5877 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2022 20:15:30 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 25/36] move import of win32api where it is used

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 3 +--
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 6e95860b6f1..ef14f173ede 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@
 from conan.tools.files.files import save_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.gnu.get_gnu_triplet import _get_gnu_triplet
 from conan.tools.microsoft import VCVars, is_msvc, msvc_runtime_flag, unix_path
-if os.name == "nt":
-    from conan.tools.microsoft.win32api import win32api
 from conans.errors import ConanException
 from conans.tools import args_to_string
 import os
@@ -201,6 +199,7 @@ def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=None, w
         if exe:
             if os.path.exists(exe):
                 if " " in exe and os.name == "nt":
+                    from conan.tools.microsoft.win32api import win32api
                     exe = win32api.get_short_path_name(exe)
                 exe = unix_path(self._conanfile, exe)
                 if " " in exe:

From a3f77e193d900747eee6622e1e7218394524d1b5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Oct 2022 11:39:27 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 26/36] add 4 conf to define build executables

tools.build:c_compiler for C compiler
tools.build:cxx_compiler for C++ compiler
tools.build:archiver for archiver
tools.build:linker for linker
---
 conan/tools/cmake/toolchain/blocks.py |   7 +-
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 104 ++++++++++----------------
 conan/tools/meson/toolchain.py        |  12 +--
 conans/model/conf.py                  |   4 +
 4 files changed, 51 insertions(+), 76 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/cmake/toolchain/blocks.py b/conan/tools/cmake/toolchain/blocks.py
index 74b27472722..33c0714b841 100644
--- a/conan/tools/cmake/toolchain/blocks.py
+++ b/conan/tools/cmake/toolchain/blocks.py
@@ -647,14 +647,10 @@ class GenericSystemBlock(Block):
         set(CMAKE_GENERATOR_TOOLSET "{{ toolset }}" CACHE STRING "" FORCE)
         {% endif %}
         {% if compiler %}
-        if(NOT DEFINED ENV{CC})
         set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER {{ compiler }})
-        endif()
         {% endif %}
         {% if compiler_cpp %}
-        if(NOT DEFINED ENV{CXX})
         set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER {{ compiler_cpp }})
-        endif()
         {% endif %}
         {% if compiler_rc %}
         if(NOT DEFINED ENV{RC})
@@ -735,6 +731,9 @@ def _get_compiler(self, generator):
             compiler_c = "clang"
             compiler_cpp = "clang++"
 
+        compiler_c = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:c_compiler", default=compiler_c)
+        compiler_cpp = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:cxx_compiler", default=compiler_cpp)
+
         return compiler_c, compiler_cpp, compiler_rc
 
     def _get_generic_system_name(self):
diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index ef14f173ede..2059446492e 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from conan.tools.apple.apple import apple_min_version_flag, to_apple_arch, \
     apple_sdk_path
 from conan.tools.build.cross_building import cross_building, get_cross_building_settings
-from conan.tools.env import Environment, VirtualBuildEnv
+from conan.tools.env import Environment
 from conan.tools.files.files import save_toolchain_args
 from conan.tools.gnu.get_gnu_triplet import _get_gnu_triplet
 from conan.tools.microsoft import VCVars, is_msvc, msvc_runtime_flag, unix_path
@@ -133,94 +133,73 @@ def defines(self):
         ret = [self.ndebug, self.gcc_cxx11_abi] + conf_flags + self.extra_defines
         return self._filter_list_empty_fields(ret)
 
+    def _tools_build_exe_to_unix_path(self, conf, default=None, extra_options=None, wrapper=None):
+        exe = self._conanfile.conf.get(conf, default=default)
+        if exe:
+            if os.path.exists(exe):
+                if " " in exe and os.name == "nt":
+                    from conan.tools.microsoft.win32api import win32api
+                    exe = win32api.get_short_path_name(exe)
+                exe = unix_path(self._conanfile, exe)
+                if " " in exe:
+                    exe = default
+        if exe:
+            if extra_options:
+                for option in extra_options:
+                    if option not in exe:
+                        exe += f" {option}"
+            if wrapper:
+                if extra_options:
+                    exe = f"\"{exe}\""
+                exe = f"{unix_path(self._conanfile, wrapper)} {exe}"
+        return exe
+
     def _get_cc(self):
-        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
-            "CC",
+        return self._tools_build_exe_to_unix_path(
+            "tools.build:c_compiler",
             "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
             ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
             self._compile_wrapper,
         )
 
     def _get_cxx(self):
-        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
-            "CXX",
+        return self._tools_build_exe_to_unix_path(
+            "tools.build:cxx_compiler",
             "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
             ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
             self._compile_wrapper,
         )
 
     def _get_ld(self):
-        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
-            "LD",
+        return self._tools_build_exe_to_unix_path(
+            "tools.build:linker",
             "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
             ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
         )
 
     def _get_ar(self):
-        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
-            "AR",
+        return self._tools_build_exe_to_unix_path(
+            "tools.build:archiver",
             "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-            ["-nologo"],
+            ["-nologo"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
             self._ar_wrapper,
         )
 
     def _get_nm(self):
-        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
-            "NM",
-            "dumpbin" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-            ["-nologo", "-symbols"] if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else [],
-        )
+        return "dumpbin -nologo -symbols" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
 
     def _get_objdump(self):
-        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
-            "OBJDUMP",
-            ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-        )
+        return ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
 
     def _get_ranlib(self):
-        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
-            "RANLIB",
-            ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-        )
+        return ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
 
     def _get_strip(self):
-        return self._exe_env_var_to_unix_path(
-            "STRIP",
-            ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None,
-        )
-
-    def _exe_env_var_to_unix_path(self, env_var, default=None, extra_options=None, wrapper=None):
-        """
-            Convenient method to convert env vars like CC, CXX or LD to values compatible with autotools.
-            If env var doesn't exist, returns default.
-        """
-        env_var_value = VirtualBuildEnv(self._conanfile).vars().get(env_var)
-        exe = env_var_value
-        if exe:
-            if os.path.exists(exe):
-                if " " in exe and os.name == "nt":
-                    from conan.tools.microsoft.win32api import win32api
-                    exe = win32api.get_short_path_name(exe)
-                exe = unix_path(self._conanfile, exe)
-                if " " in exe:
-                    exe = default
-        else:
-            exe = default
-        if exe:
-            if extra_options:
-                for option in extra_options:
-                    if option not in exe:
-                        exe += f" {option}"
-            if wrapper:
-                if extra_options:
-                    exe = f"\"{exe}\""
-                exe = f"{unix_path(self._conanfile, wrapper)} {exe}"
-        return exe
+        return ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
 
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
-        build_env = VirtualBuildEnv(self._conanfile).vars()
-        for env_var, new_env_var_value in [
+        for env_var, env_var_value in [
             ("CC", self.cc),
             ("CXX", self.cxx),
             ("LD", self.ld),
@@ -230,15 +209,8 @@ def environment(self):
             ("RANLIB", self.ranlib),
             ("STRIP", self.strip),
         ]:
-            if new_env_var_value:
-                previous_env_var_value = build_env.get(env_var)
-                if new_env_var_value != previous_env_var_value:
-                    env.define(env_var, new_env_var_value)
-                    if previous_env_var_value:
-                        self._conanfile.output.info(
-                            f"{self.__class__.__name__}: {env_var} env var set to "
-                            f"{new_env_var_value}, instead of {previous_env_var_value}"
-                        )
+            if env_var_value:
+                env.define(env_var, env_var_value)
         env.append("CPPFLAGS", ["-D{}".format(d) for d in self.defines])
         env.append("CXXFLAGS", self.cxxflags)
         env.append("CFLAGS", self.cflags)
diff --git a/conan/tools/meson/toolchain.py b/conan/tools/meson/toolchain.py
index d97116943d3..fcf3cb6d69e 100644
--- a/conan/tools/meson/toolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/meson/toolchain.py
@@ -163,13 +163,13 @@ def __init__(self, conanfile, backend=None):
                 default_comp = "gcc"
                 default_comp_cpp = "g++"
 
-        # Read the VirtualBuildEnv to update the variables
+        # Read the VirtualBuildEnv to update the variables. Values from conf have precedence.
         build_env = VirtualBuildEnv(self._conanfile).vars()
-        self.c = build_env.get("CC") or default_comp
-        self.cpp = build_env.get("CXX") or default_comp_cpp
-        self.c_ld = build_env.get("CC_LD") or build_env.get("LD")
-        self.cpp_ld = build_env.get("CXX_LD") or build_env.get("LD")
-        self.ar = build_env.get("AR")
+        self.c = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:c_compiler", default=build_env.get("CC") or default_comp)
+        self.cpp = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:cxx_compiler", default=build_env.get("CXX") or default_comp_cpp)
+        self.c_ld = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:linker", default=build_env.get("CC_LD") or build_env.get("LD"))
+        self.cpp_ld = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:linker", default=build_env.get("CXX_LD") or build_env.get("LD"))
+        self.ar = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:archiver", default=build_env.get("AR"))
         self.strip = build_env.get("STRIP")
         self.as_ = build_env.get("AS")
         self.windres = build_env.get("WINDRES")
diff --git a/conans/model/conf.py b/conans/model/conf.py
index 4df28790e10..78dfd33bb5d 100644
--- a/conans/model/conf.py
+++ b/conans/model/conf.py
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@
     "tools.apple:enable_bitcode": "(boolean) Enable/Disable Bitcode Apple Clang flags",
     "tools.apple:enable_arc": "(boolean) Enable/Disable ARC Apple Clang flags",
     "tools.apple:enable_visibility": "(boolean) Enable/Disable Visibility Apple Clang flags",
+    "tools.build:archiver": "Define the archiver executable name or full path",
+    "tools.build:c_compiler": "Define the C compiler executable name or full path",
+    "tools.build:cxx_compiler": "Define the C++ compiler executable name or full path",
+    "tools.build:linker": "Define the linker executable name or full path",
     "tools.build:cxxflags": "List of extra CXX flags used by different toolchains like CMakeToolchain, AutotoolsToolchain and MesonToolchain",
     "tools.build:cflags": "List of extra C flags used by different toolchains like CMakeToolchain, AutotoolsToolchain and MesonToolchain",
     "tools.build:defines": "List of extra definition flags used by different toolchains like CMakeToolchain and AutotoolsToolchain",

From 49d2cd7b6ea5860809ea9b86244b2ba19bf7c6e5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2022 23:08:32 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 27/36] some fixes following merge

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 2 +-
 conans/model/conf.py                  | 4 ----
 2 files changed, 1 insertion(+), 5 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 56096824676..f5d78c1e55f 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 
 class AutotoolsToolchain:
-    def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None, compile_wrapper=None, ar_wrapper=None):
+    def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None, prefix="/"):
         self._conanfile = conanfile
         self._namespace = namespace
         self._prefix = prefix
diff --git a/conans/model/conf.py b/conans/model/conf.py
index 31b94b50b2d..62f91da8d24 100644
--- a/conans/model/conf.py
+++ b/conans/model/conf.py
@@ -48,10 +48,6 @@
     "tools.apple:enable_bitcode": "(boolean) Enable/Disable Bitcode Apple Clang flags",
     "tools.apple:enable_arc": "(boolean) Enable/Disable ARC Apple Clang flags",
     "tools.apple:enable_visibility": "(boolean) Enable/Disable Visibility Apple Clang flags",
-    "tools.build:archiver": "Define the archiver executable name or full path",
-    "tools.build:c_compiler": "Define the C compiler executable name or full path",
-    "tools.build:cxx_compiler": "Define the C++ compiler executable name or full path",
-    "tools.build:linker": "Define the linker executable name or full path",
     "tools.build:cxxflags": "List of extra CXX flags used by different toolchains like CMakeToolchain, AutotoolsToolchain and MesonToolchain",
     "tools.build:cflags": "List of extra C flags used by different toolchains like CMakeToolchain, AutotoolsToolchain and MesonToolchain",
     "tools.build:defines": "List of extra definition flags used by different toolchains like CMakeToolchain and AutotoolsToolchain",

From c9949325968ef733262094533c5315ad3d806f1d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2022 23:14:31 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 28/36] more fixes

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 8 +++++---
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index f5d78c1e55f..001f091f56c 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -148,15 +148,17 @@ def _curated_path(self, exe, default=None):
 
     def _get_cc(self):
         cc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("c")
-        return self._curated_path(cc, "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None)
+        default_cc = "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
+        return self._curated_path(cc or default_cc, default_cc)
 
     def _get_cxx(self):
         cxx = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cpp")
-        return self._curated_path(cxx, "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None)
+        default_cxx = "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
+        return self._curated_path(cxx or default_cxx, default_cxx)
 
     def _get_cuda(self):
         cuda = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cuda")
-        return self._curated_path(cxx, None)
+        return self._curated_path(cuda, None)
 
     def _get_fortran(self):
         fc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("fortran")

From c902918782f15f206a79b6ec412cbbd772f9904c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2022 23:15:58 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 29/36] minor change

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 8 ++++----
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 001f091f56c..b2d2cc38c7e 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -156,14 +156,14 @@ def _get_cxx(self):
         default_cxx = "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
         return self._curated_path(cxx or default_cxx, default_cxx)
 
-    def _get_cuda(self):
-        cuda = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cuda")
-        return self._curated_path(cuda, None)
-
     def _get_fortran(self):
         fc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("fortran")
         return self._curated_path(fc, None)
 
+    def _get_cuda(self):
+        cuda = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cuda")
+        return self._curated_path(cuda, None)
+
     def _get_ld(self):
         return "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
 

From e39360066103dd199d83250c06ab72a676ec1219 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2022 23:18:14 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 30/36] less babysitting, only curate path

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 12 +++++-------
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index b2d2cc38c7e..96cbf5334a8 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -135,34 +135,32 @@ def defines(self):
         ret = [self.ndebug, self.gcc_cxx11_abi] + conf_flags + self.extra_defines
         return self._filter_list_empty_fields(ret)
 
-    def _curated_path(self, exe, default=None):
+    def _curated_path(self, exe):
         if exe:
             if os.path.exists(exe):
                 if " " in exe and os.name == "nt":
                     from conan.tools.microsoft.win32api import win32api
                     exe = win32api.get_short_path_name(exe)
                 exe = unix_path(self._conanfile, exe)
-                if " " in exe:
-                    exe = default
         return exe
 
     def _get_cc(self):
         cc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("c")
         default_cc = "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
-        return self._curated_path(cc or default_cc, default_cc)
+        return self._curated_path(cc or default_cc)
 
     def _get_cxx(self):
         cxx = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cpp")
         default_cxx = "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
-        return self._curated_path(cxx or default_cxx, default_cxx)
+        return self._curated_path(cxx or default_cxx)
 
     def _get_fortran(self):
         fc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("fortran")
-        return self._curated_path(fc, None)
+        return self._curated_path(fc)
 
     def _get_cuda(self):
         cuda = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cuda")
-        return self._curated_path(cuda, None)
+        return self._curated_path(cuda)
 
     def _get_ld(self):
         return "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None

From 49264d8d6520da6770aab79bddfe391be54d33d3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2022 23:23:36 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 31/36] minor change

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 14 ++++++++------
 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 96cbf5334a8..33b7b4b539a 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -146,17 +146,19 @@ def _curated_path(self, exe):
 
     def _get_cc(self):
         cc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("c")
-        default_cc = "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
-        return self._curated_path(cc or default_cc)
+        if not cc and is_msvc(self._conanfile):
+            cc = "cl"
+        return self._curated_path(cc)
 
     def _get_cxx(self):
         cxx = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cpp")
-        default_cxx = "cl" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
-        return self._curated_path(cxx or default_cxx)
+        if not cxx and is_msvc(self._conanfile):
+            cxx = "cl"
+        return self._curated_path(cxx)
 
     def _get_fortran(self):
-        fc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("fortran")
-        return self._curated_path(fc)
+        fortran = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("fortran")
+        return self._curated_path(fortran)
 
     def _get_cuda(self):
         cuda = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cuda")

From 8ab97ab71125368b16de4c4ce626aee05f7cdb56 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2022 23:35:04 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 32/36] simplify curated_path

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 15 +++++++--------
 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 33b7b4b539a..de1f399e6b0 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -135,14 +135,13 @@ def defines(self):
         ret = [self.ndebug, self.gcc_cxx11_abi] + conf_flags + self.extra_defines
         return self._filter_list_empty_fields(ret)
 
-    def _curated_path(self, exe):
-        if exe:
-            if os.path.exists(exe):
-                if " " in exe and os.name == "nt":
-                    from conan.tools.microsoft.win32api import win32api
-                    exe = win32api.get_short_path_name(exe)
-                exe = unix_path(self._conanfile, exe)
-        return exe
+    def _curated_path(self, path):
+        if path and os.path.exists(path):
+            if " " in path and os.name == "nt":
+                from conan.tools.microsoft.win32api import win32api
+                path = win32api.get_short_path_name(path)
+            path = unix_path(self._conanfile, path)
+        return path
 
     def _get_cc(self):
         cc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("c")

From 22abcaa5a43413a63b901181c040d73a47c1ba1d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2022 02:27:58 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 33/36] only manage env vars related to tools which may be
 provided by tools.build:compiler_executables

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 65 ++++++++++-----------------
 1 file changed, 24 insertions(+), 41 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index de1f399e6b0..84efcfafb24 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -45,17 +45,14 @@ def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None, prefix="/"):
         self.fpic = self._conanfile.options.get_safe("fPIC")
         self.msvc_runtime_flag = self._get_msvc_runtime_flag()
 
-        # standard build toolchains env vars
-        self.cc = self._get_cc()
-        self.cxx = self._get_cxx()
-        self.cuda = self._get_cuda()
-        self.fortran = self._get_fortran()
-        self.ld = self._get_ld()
-        self.ar = self._get_ar()
-        self.nm = self._get_nm()
-        self.objdump = self._get_objdump()
-        self.ranlib = self._get_ranlib()
-        self.strip = self._get_strip()
+        self._toolchain_env_vars = {
+            "ccas": self._get_ccas(),
+            "cc": self._get_cc(),
+            "cxx": self._get_cxx(),
+            "cuda": self._get_cuda(),
+            "fortran": self._get_fortran(),
+            "rc": self._get_rc(),
+        }
 
         # Cross build triplets
         self._host = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.gnu:host_triplet")
@@ -143,6 +140,10 @@ def _curated_path(self, path):
             path = unix_path(self._conanfile, path)
         return path
 
+    def _get_ccas(self):
+        ccas = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("asm")
+        return self._curated_path(ccas)
+
     def _get_cc(self):
         cc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("c")
         if not cc and is_msvc(self._conanfile):
@@ -155,45 +156,27 @@ def _get_cxx(self):
             cxx = "cl"
         return self._curated_path(cxx)
 
-    def _get_fortran(self):
-        fortran = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("fortran")
-        return self._curated_path(fortran)
-
     def _get_cuda(self):
         cuda = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cuda")
         return self._curated_path(cuda)
 
-    def _get_ld(self):
-        return "link" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
-
-    def _get_ar(self):
-        return "lib" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
-
-    def _get_nm(self):
-        return "dumpbin -symbols" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
-
-    def _get_objdump(self):
-        return ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
-
-    def _get_ranlib(self):
-        return ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
+    def _get_fortran(self):
+        fortran = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("fortran")
+        return self._curated_path(fortran)
 
-    def _get_strip(self):
-        return ":" if is_msvc(self._conanfile) else None
+    def _get_rc(self):
+        rc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("rc")
+        return self._curated_path(rc)
 
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
         for env_var, env_var_value in [
-            ("CC", self.cc),
-            ("CXX", self.cxx),
-            ("FC", self.fortran),
-            ("NVCC", self.cuda),
-            ("LD", self.ld),
-            ("AR", self.ar),
-            ("NM", self.nm),
-            ("OBJDUMP", self.objdump),
-            ("RANLIB", self.ranlib),
-            ("STRIP", self.strip),
+            ("CCAS", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("ccas"))
+            ("CC", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("cc")),
+            ("CXX", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("cxx")),
+            ("NVCC", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("cuda")),
+            ("FC", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("fortran")),
+            ("RC", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("rc")),
         ]:
             if env_var_value:
                 env.define(env_var, env_var_value)

From e885850fdc721fbf9698f9ac02a9a17e1da27307 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2022 02:38:02 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 34/36] do not compute these paths on instance creation

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 39 +++++++++++++--------------
 1 file changed, 18 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 84efcfafb24..04662090ff3 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -45,15 +45,6 @@ def __init__(self, conanfile, namespace=None, prefix="/"):
         self.fpic = self._conanfile.options.get_safe("fPIC")
         self.msvc_runtime_flag = self._get_msvc_runtime_flag()
 
-        self._toolchain_env_vars = {
-            "ccas": self._get_ccas(),
-            "cc": self._get_cc(),
-            "cxx": self._get_cxx(),
-            "cuda": self._get_cuda(),
-            "fortran": self._get_fortran(),
-            "rc": self._get_rc(),
-        }
-
         # Cross build triplets
         self._host = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.gnu:host_triplet")
         self._build = None
@@ -140,43 +131,49 @@ def _curated_path(self, path):
             path = unix_path(self._conanfile, path)
         return path
 
-    def _get_ccas(self):
+    @property
+    def _ccas(self):
         ccas = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("asm")
         return self._curated_path(ccas)
 
-    def _get_cc(self):
+    @property
+    def _cc(self):
         cc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("c")
         if not cc and is_msvc(self._conanfile):
             cc = "cl"
         return self._curated_path(cc)
 
-    def _get_cxx(self):
+    @property
+    def _cxx(self):
         cxx = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cpp")
         if not cxx and is_msvc(self._conanfile):
             cxx = "cl"
         return self._curated_path(cxx)
 
-    def _get_cuda(self):
+    @property
+    def _cuda(self):
         cuda = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cuda")
         return self._curated_path(cuda)
 
-    def _get_fortran(self):
+    @property
+    def _fortran(self):
         fortran = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("fortran")
         return self._curated_path(fortran)
 
-    def _get_rc(self):
+    @property
+    def _rc(self):
         rc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("rc")
         return self._curated_path(rc)
 
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
         for env_var, env_var_value in [
-            ("CCAS", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("ccas"))
-            ("CC", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("cc")),
-            ("CXX", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("cxx")),
-            ("NVCC", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("cuda")),
-            ("FC", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("fortran")),
-            ("RC", self._toolchain_env_vars.get("rc")),
+            ("CCAS", self._ccas)
+            ("CC", self._cc),
+            ("CXX", self._cxx),
+            ("NVCC", self._cuda),
+            ("FC", self._fortran),
+            ("RC", self._rc),
         ]:
             if env_var_value:
                 env.define(env_var, env_var_value)

From 3bb2dc956f0ad252c8ffd1b83074b12e1096d997 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2022 09:11:14 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 35/36] typo

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index 04662090ff3..beccd79dcf0 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def _rc(self):
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
         for env_var, env_var_value in [
-            ("CCAS", self._ccas)
+            ("CCAS", self._ccas),
             ("CC", self._cc),
             ("CXX", self._cxx),
             ("NVCC", self._cuda),

From 31726280f623b406fa91b0a0cd8c24387762f658 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: SpaceIm <30052553+SpaceIm@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2022 09:48:33 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 36/36] simplify even more

---
 conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py | 50 ++++-----------------------
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 44 deletions(-)

diff --git a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
index beccd79dcf0..911c080f9f7 100644
--- a/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/gnu/autotoolstoolchain.py
@@ -131,52 +131,14 @@ def _curated_path(self, path):
             path = unix_path(self._conanfile, path)
         return path
 
-    @property
-    def _ccas(self):
-        ccas = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("asm")
-        return self._curated_path(ccas)
-
-    @property
-    def _cc(self):
-        cc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("c")
-        if not cc and is_msvc(self._conanfile):
-            cc = "cl"
-        return self._curated_path(cc)
-
-    @property
-    def _cxx(self):
-        cxx = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cpp")
-        if not cxx and is_msvc(self._conanfile):
-            cxx = "cl"
-        return self._curated_path(cxx)
-
-    @property
-    def _cuda(self):
-        cuda = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("cuda")
-        return self._curated_path(cuda)
-
-    @property
-    def _fortran(self):
-        fortran = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("fortran")
-        return self._curated_path(fortran)
-
-    @property
-    def _rc(self):
-        rc = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict).get("rc")
-        return self._curated_path(rc)
-
     def environment(self):
         env = Environment()
-        for env_var, env_var_value in [
-            ("CCAS", self._ccas),
-            ("CC", self._cc),
-            ("CXX", self._cxx),
-            ("NVCC", self._cuda),
-            ("FC", self._fortran),
-            ("RC", self._rc),
-        ]:
-            if env_var_value:
-                env.define(env_var, env_var_value)
+        compilers_by_conf = self._conanfile.conf.get("tools.build:compiler_executables", default={}, check_type=dict)
+        if compilers_by_conf:
+            compilers_mapping = {"asm": "CCAS", "c": "CC", "cpp": "CXX", "cuda": "NVCC", "fortran": "FC"}
+            for comp, env_var in compilers_mapping.items():
+                if comp in compilers_by_conf:
+                    env.define(env_var, self._curated_path(compilers_by_conf[comp]))
         env.append("CPPFLAGS", ["-D{}".format(d) for d in self.defines])
         env.append("CXXFLAGS", self.cxxflags)
         env.append("CFLAGS", self.cflags)