Update autoconf macros

... except for ax_with_curses.m4 which requires PKG_CHECK_EXISTS which,
apparently, cci does not have

should we consider again to not have them and rather require autoconf-archive
be installed?

m4/ax_check_compile_flag.m4

 # ===========================================================================
-#   http://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_check_compile_flag.html
+#  https://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_check_compile_flag.html
 # ===========================================================================
 #
 # SYNOPSIS
 #
-#   AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG(FLAG, [ACTION-SUCCESS], [ACTION-FAILURE], [EXTRA-FLAGS])
+#   AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG(FLAG, [ACTION-SUCCESS], [ACTION-FAILURE], [EXTRA-FLAGS], [INPUT])
 #
 # DESCRIPTION
 #
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 #   the flags: "CFLAGS EXTRA-FLAGS FLAG".  This can for example be used to
 #   force the compiler to issue an error when a bad flag is given.
 #
+#   INPUT gives an alternative input source to AC_COMPILE_IFELSE.
+#
 #   NOTE: Implementation based on AX_CFLAGS_GCC_OPTION. Please keep this
 #   macro in sync with AX_CHECK_{PREPROC,LINK}_FLAG.
 #
@@ -27,45 +29,24 @@
 #   Copyright (c) 2008 Guido U. Draheim <guidod@gmx.de>
 #   Copyright (c) 2011 Maarten Bosmans <mkbosmans@gmail.com>
 #
-#   This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
-#   under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
-#   Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your
-#   option) any later version.
-#
-#   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
-#   WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-#   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General
-#   Public License for more details.
-#
-#   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
-#   with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-#
-#   As a special exception, the respective Autoconf Macro's copyright owner
-#   gives unlimited permission to copy, distribute and modify the configure
-#   scripts that are the output of Autoconf when processing the Macro. You
-#   need not follow the terms of the GNU General Public License when using
-#   or distributing such scripts, even though portions of the text of the
-#   Macro appear in them. The GNU General Public License (GPL) does govern
-#   all other use of the material that constitutes the Autoconf Macro.
-#
-#   This special exception to the GPL applies to versions of the Autoconf
-#   Macro released by the Autoconf Archive. When you make and distribute a
-#   modified version of the Autoconf Macro, you may extend this special
-#   exception to the GPL to apply to your modified version as well.
+#   Copying and distribution of this file, with or without modification, are
+#   permitted in any medium without royalty provided the copyright notice
+#   and this notice are preserved.  This file is offered as-is, without any
+#   warranty.
 
-#serial 2
+#serial 6
 
 AC_DEFUN([AX_CHECK_COMPILE_FLAG],
-[AC_PREREQ(2.59)dnl for _AC_LANG_PREFIX
+[AC_PREREQ(2.64)dnl for _AC_LANG_PREFIX and AS_VAR_IF
 AS_VAR_PUSHDEF([CACHEVAR],[ax_cv_check_[]_AC_LANG_ABBREV[]flags_$4_$1])dnl
 AC_CACHE_CHECK([whether _AC_LANG compiler accepts $1], CACHEVAR, [
   ax_check_save_flags=$[]_AC_LANG_PREFIX[]FLAGS
   _AC_LANG_PREFIX[]FLAGS="$[]_AC_LANG_PREFIX[]FLAGS $4 $1"
-  AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM()],
+  AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([m4_default([$5],[AC_LANG_PROGRAM()])],
     [AS_VAR_SET(CACHEVAR,[yes])],
     [AS_VAR_SET(CACHEVAR,[no])])
   _AC_LANG_PREFIX[]FLAGS=$ax_check_save_flags])
-AS_IF([test x"AS_VAR_GET(CACHEVAR)" = xyes],
+AS_VAR_IF(CACHEVAR,yes,
   [m4_default([$2], :)],
   [m4_default([$3], :)])
 AS_VAR_POPDEF([CACHEVAR])dnl

m4/ax_check_link_flag.m4

 # ===========================================================================
-#    http://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_check_link_flag.html
+#    https://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_check_link_flag.html
 # ===========================================================================
 #
 # SYNOPSIS
@@ -29,36 +29,16 @@
 #   Copyright (c) 2008 Guido U. Draheim <guidod@gmx.de>
 #   Copyright (c) 2011 Maarten Bosmans <mkbosmans@gmail.com>
 #
-#   This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
-#   under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
-#   Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your
-#   option) any later version.
-#
-#   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
-#   WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-#   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General
-#   Public License for more details.
-#
-#   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
-#   with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-#
-#   As a special exception, the respective Autoconf Macro's copyright owner
-#   gives unlimited permission to copy, distribute and modify the configure
-#   scripts that are the output of Autoconf when processing the Macro. You
-#   need not follow the terms of the GNU General Public License when using
-#   or distributing such scripts, even though portions of the text of the
-#   Macro appear in them. The GNU General Public License (GPL) does govern
-#   all other use of the material that constitutes the Autoconf Macro.
-#
-#   This special exception to the GPL applies to versions of the Autoconf
-#   Macro released by the Autoconf Archive. When you make and distribute a
-#   modified version of the Autoconf Macro, you may extend this special
-#   exception to the GPL to apply to your modified version as well.
+#   Copying and distribution of this file, with or without modification, are
+#   permitted in any medium without royalty provided the copyright notice
+#   and this notice are preserved.  This file is offered as-is, without any
+#   warranty.
 
-#serial 3
+#serial 6
 
 AC_DEFUN([AX_CHECK_LINK_FLAG],
-[AS_VAR_PUSHDEF([CACHEVAR],[ax_cv_check_ldflags_$4_$1])dnl
+[AC_PREREQ(2.64)dnl for _AC_LANG_PREFIX and AS_VAR_IF
+AS_VAR_PUSHDEF([CACHEVAR],[ax_cv_check_ldflags_$4_$1])dnl
 AC_CACHE_CHECK([whether the linker accepts $1], CACHEVAR, [
   ax_check_save_flags=$LDFLAGS
   LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS $4 $1"
@@ -66,7 +46,7 @@ AC_CACHE_CHECK([whether the linker accepts $1], CACHEVAR, [
     [AS_VAR_SET(CACHEVAR,[yes])],
     [AS_VAR_SET(CACHEVAR,[no])])
   LDFLAGS=$ax_check_save_flags])
-AS_IF([test x"AS_VAR_GET(CACHEVAR)" = xyes],
+AS_VAR_IF(CACHEVAR,yes,
   [m4_default([$2], :)],
   [m4_default([$3], :)])
 AS_VAR_POPDEF([CACHEVAR])dnl

m4/ax_lib_readline.m4

 # ===========================================================================
-#      http://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_lib_readline.html
+#     https://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_lib_readline.html
 # ===========================================================================
 #
 # SYNOPSIS
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
 #   and this notice are preserved. This file is offered as-is, without any
 #   warranty.
 
-#serial 6
+#serial 8
 
 AU_ALIAS([VL_LIB_READLINE], [AX_LIB_READLINE])
 AC_DEFUN([AX_LIB_READLINE], [
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_LIB_READLINE], [
           TRY_LIB="-l$readline_lib -l$termcap_lib"
         fi
         LIBS="$ORIG_LIBS $TRY_LIB"
-        AC_TRY_LINK_FUNC(readline, ax_cv_lib_readline="$TRY_LIB")
+        AC_LINK_IFELSE([AC_LANG_CALL([], [readline])], [ax_cv_lib_readline="$TRY_LIB"])
         if test -n "$ax_cv_lib_readline"; then
           break
         fi
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_LIB_READLINE], [
     AC_CACHE_CHECK([whether readline supports history],
                    ax_cv_lib_readline_history, [
       ax_cv_lib_readline_history="no"
-      AC_TRY_LINK_FUNC(add_history, ax_cv_lib_readline_history="yes")
+      AC_LINK_IFELSE([AC_LANG_CALL([], [add_history])], [ax_cv_lib_readline_history="yes"])
     ])
     if test "$ax_cv_lib_readline_history" = "yes"; then
       AC_DEFINE(HAVE_READLINE_HISTORY, 1,