Re: Extension proposal

[Paul D. Smith]

Hi Eray;

Thanks for the patch.

However, you should be aware that the major new feature for the next
release of GNU make, which will be 3.80, is a superset of the change you
are proposing.  The read.c file is being (indeed, has already been)
fairly extensively reworked.

Also, you make use of very advanced functionality (fmemopen) which
isn't available even on the large majority of modern UNIX versions, much
less on the other supported platforms such as Windows, DOS, VMS, and
Amiga.  I cannot accept code for fundamental (makefile-level) changes in
GNU make's syntax which is not portable, or at least mostly portable.
The reason GNU make still uses K&R style function declarations, for
example, is because make is a fundamental part of the GNU bootstrap
toolchain, and as such it _must_ work on even very old systems without
ANSI compilers [*].

It would be good to contact me about potential new functionality you are
interested in adding to make so we can be sure there isn't overlap and
duplication of work.  Also, we need to be sure the paperwork is properly
handled.

Thanks!


[*] Yes, I know about ansi2knr; someday! :)

-- 
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 Paul D. Smith <address@hidden>          Find some GNU make tips at:
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 "Please remain calm...I may be mad, but I am a professional." --Mad Scientist