Re: -n option executes commands; bug?"

[Martin McCann]

fro the  info page - 

"`-n'
`--just-print'
`--dry-run'
`--recon'
     "No-op".  The activity is to print what commands would be used to
     make the targets up to date, but not actually execute them. 
.......
Note that the options `-p' and `-v' allow you to obtain other
information about `make' or about the makefiles in use (*note Summary
of Options: Options Summary.).
"
"
`-p'
`--print-data-base'
     Print the data base (rules and variable values) that results from
     reading the makefiles; then execute as usual or as otherwise
     specified.  This also prints the version information given by the
     `-v' switch (see below).  To print the data base without trying to
     remake any files, use `make -qp'.  To print the data base of
     predefined rules and variables, use `make -p -f /dev/null'.  The
     data base output contains filename and linenumber information for
     command and variable definitions, so it can be a useful debugging
     tool in complex environments.
"

I can't see any information in that to make me assume that the commands should 
be executed.  Perhaps I am missing something obvious, but could you please 
explain your answer that we might understand a little better? 

Cheers, 
Martin 



On Monday 23 Jun 2003 7:44 pm, Paul D. Smith wrote:
> %% gk <address@hidden> writes:
>
>   g> Is this a bug?
>
> No.
>
>   g> Generally, -n option behaves as documented : 'dry-run'; no rules
>   g> are executed.  However, the following example shows that rule
>   g> including $(MAKE) -p is executed.
>
> Yes.
>
>   g> foo:
>   g>  @$(MAKE) -p $@ 1>$@
>
> See the GNU make manual section that defines the -n option, "Instead of
> Executing the Commands".