%% "David Copeland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: dc> So, for the make developers/maintainers out there: is there an dc> answer in adding features to make to facilitate Java development dc> the way it facilitates C development? Is this a case where a dc> separate tool really is needed?
Hm. First, realize I've never written a line of Java in my life so I really have only a vague concept of what it takes to "facilitate Java development". Second, I don't think there's anything in make that's really dedicated to "facilitating C development". Rather, make is designed to work in a "serial" environment where only one target file is generated from zero, one, or more prerequisites. That fits C, but it also fits a very significant majority of other language environments (as well as lots of other things besides programming). My understanding of Java is that they want to take a bunch of input files and generate a bunch of output files, and that the mapping between the input and output is not simple (that is, can't be calculated using string manipulations on the file names). One possible new feature that I've always wanted which might help Java folks is the ability to tell make that a single invocation of an _explicit_ rule can generate multiple target files. Right now (as a GNU make extension) you can tell make that a single invocation of an implicit (pattern) rule can generate multiple targets, but not explicit rules. Doing the latter would require some new syntax, which is one reason I've not really made a serious run at this feature. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul D. Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Find some GNU make tips at: http://www.gnu.org http://www.paulandlesley.org/gmake/ "Please remain calm...I may be mad, but I am a professional." --Mad Scientist _______________________________________________ Help-make mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/help-make
