diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5460e0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# Run this to generate all the initial makefiles, etc.
+
+DIE=0
+
+(autoconf --version) < /dev/null > /dev/null 2>&1 || {
+	echo
+	echo "You must have autoconf installed to compile GLIB."
+	echo "Download the appropriate package for your distribution,"
+	echo "or get the source tarball at ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/"
+	DIE=1
+}
+
+(libtool --version) < /dev/null > /dev/null 2>&1 || {
+	echo
+	echo "You must have libtool installed to compile GLIB."
+	echo "Get ftp://alpha.gnu.org/gnu/libtool-1.0h.tar.gz"
+	echo "(or a newer version if it is available)"
+	DIE=1
+}
+
+(automake --version) < /dev/null > /dev/null 2>&1 || {
+	echo
+	echo "You must have automake installed to compile GLIB."
+	echo "Get ftp://ftp.cygnus.com/pub/home/tromey/automake-1.2d.tar.gz"
+	echo "(or a newer version if it is available)"
+	DIE=1
+}
+
+if test "$DIE" -eq 1; then
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+test -f xml_entities.h || {
+	echo "You must run this script in the top-level GLIB directory"
+	exit 1
+}
+
+if test -z "$*"; then
+	echo "I am going to run ./configure with no arguments - if you wish "
+        echo "to pass any to it, please specify them on the $0 command line."
+fi
+
+aclocal
+automake
+autoconf
+./configure "$@"
+
+echo 
+echo "Now type 'make' to compile GLIB."