Re: [bug #30505] Make doesn't update the entire dependency chain?

[Edward Welbourne]

> The .PHONY forces make to update the file, even though it has no
> dependencies and would otherwise be considered up-to-date.

Then you should force the target instead; this is an abuse of .PHONY.

previous_var: FORCE
        echo $(VAR) > previous_var
FORCE: # no prerequisites
# no rule

will do what you want, where .PHONY does other things (which might by
why you aren't seeing the results you expect).  A non-existent target,
with no prerequisites and no command to create it, always forces
things that depend on it to be remade.

        Eddy.