%% Jeremy Broughton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: jb> I have the following sample makefile, which seems to produce the jb> following erroneous output, using the cygwin version 1.3.10:
The output is not erroneous. jb> target1.txt target2.txt : jb> ifneq "" "$^" jb> @echo $^ jb> else jb> @echo this doesn't seem empty to me: $^ jb> endif Someone else gave the answer: I'll elaborate a little bit. It's critically important to grasp the difference between make constructs, like ifeq etc., and command line constructs, like the @echo ... lines. Make constructs are evaluated as the makefile is read in. Command line constructs are evaluated when the command is about to be run. Automatic variables, like $^, are only set in the context of the command scripts. So, when the ifneq is evaluated, when the makefile is being read in, the value of $^ is the empty string. Later on, when make is done reading the makefiles, starts to run the rules, and decides to rebuild "target1.txt", it will set $^ to the value of the prerequisite then evaluate the command script, so you get the output you see. jb> Do you know if this is fixed in a newer cygwin release? It will never be "fixed", because it is not a bug. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul D. Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Find some GNU make tips at: http://www.gnu.org http://make.paulandlesley.org "Please remain calm...I may be mad, but I am a professional." --Mad Scientist _______________________________________________ Bug-make mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-make
