Add standard GNU files and remove unused variables from configure

ChangeLog

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+The Harriman-Peikoff Project ChangeLog
+======================================
+
+This project uses Git for version control. Detailed commit history and 
+changes can be viewed using Git tools or by visiting the project's 
+repository.
+
+For a detailed history of changes, please refer to the Git commit log.
+
+Example commands to view the commit history:
+
+1. To view the commit history in the terminal:
+    ```sh
+    git log
+    ```
+
+2. To view a specific commit:
+    ```sh
+    git show <commit-hash>
+    ```
+
+3. To view changes between two commits:
+    ```sh
+    git diff <commit-hash-1> <commit-hash-2>
+    ```
+
+4. To view the commit history in a graphical interface, you can use tools 
+   like Gitk or Git GUI:
+    ```sh
+    gitk
+    git gui
+    ```
+
+For more information, visit the project's repository on GitHub.