Re: [bug #60774] make hangs on fcntl lock when using -O and stdout is /dev/null

[Dmitry Goncharov]

On Sat, Jul 24, 2021 at 3:02 PM David Boyce <david.s.boyce@gmail.com> wrote:

> The point is that only /dev/null *should* be shared. Any other file *might* 
> be locked by an unrelated process but that would represent an error condition 
> in which incorrect results should be expected.

i think, it is less likely that an unrelated process locks a make's
private temp file, than a system wide global file.

> I can’t think of a file other than /dev/null which would appropriately be 
> shared with unrelated processes in a “w” (write) condition.

/dev/zero, /dev/lp0, /dev/lp1, /dev/pts, etc.
i recognize the simplicity of using stdout. However, i also dislike
adding pieces of code for a set of special files. The user will always
find a way to screw it.

Also, make is portable. What about those systems which do not have
inode/devices?

regards, Dmitry