--- freem/configure.ac	2025/05/16 13:22:57	1.37
+++ freem/configure.ac	2025/05/17 17:00:04	1.38
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-#   $Id: configure.ac,v 1.37 2025/05/16 13:22:57 snw Exp $
+#   $Id: configure.ac,v 1.38 2025/05/17 17:00:04 snw Exp $
 #    autoconf rules for FreeM
 #
 #  
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
 #   along with FreeM.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 #   $Log: configure.ac,v $
+#   Revision 1.38  2025/05/17 17:00:04  snw
+#   Make it possible to select the modernized global handler with the configure script and update documentation and README.md
+#
 #   Revision 1.37  2025/05/16 13:22:57  snw
 #   Bump version to account for shared memory changes
 #
@@ -180,6 +183,17 @@ AS_IF([test "x$enable_mwapi" = "xyes"],
   AX_LIB_MOTIF
 ]) 
 
+#
+# enable new global handler
+#
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([newglobals], AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-newglobals], [Enable modernized global handler (EXPERIMENTAL)]))
+
+AM_CONDITIONAL([USE_NEWGLOBALS], [test "x$enable_newglobals" = "xyes"])
+
+AS_IF([test "x$enable_newglobals" = "xyes"], [
+   AC_DEFINE(USE_NEW_GLOBALS, 1, [Define if using new global handler])           
+])
+
 # check for wiringPi headers and library linkage for
 # ^$ZRPI ssv on Raspberry Pi SBCs
 AC_CHECK_HEADERS(wiringPi.h)