command line variables not exported to $(shell)

[Manoj Srivastava]

Hi,

            [Please retain the CC to address@hidden
             so that the Debian Bug Tracking system can record your
             input]

        This was reported by a debian user. While I am not sure this
 is a bug, this should perhaps be documented, if not.


        manoj

 'make' does not export command-line-derived variables to subshells
 launched via $(shell): 

,----[ makefile ]
|  all:
|         @echo FOO is $$FOO,$(shell echo $(FOO)),$(shell echo $$FOO)
`----

        If I run it with 'FOO=1 make', it prints:
,----
|    FOO is 1,1,1
`----

 ...as I expected.  But if I run it with 'make FOO=1' or 'make FOO:=1',
 it prints:

,----
|    FOO is 1,1,
`----
 which I certainly did not expect.  Passing FOO separately from the
 environment and the command line, 'FOO=1 make FOO=2':

,----
|    FOO is 2,2,1
`----
 This might not be a bug, but I can't find it documentated.

-- 
"Mr. Watson, come here, I want you."  -- Alexander Graham Bell
Manoj Srivastava     <address@hidden>    <http://www.golden-gryphon.com/>
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