Using && in commands

[Robert Mecklenburg]

I have often used the shell && operator in commands run from make:

foo:
        sed ... > /tmp/x && mv /tmp/x y

but I am now questioning the value of this.  Obviously, the above mv
is executed only if sed returns success so it "protects" y from
accidental clobbering.  However, isn't that exactly what this does:

foo:
        sed ... > /tmp/x
        mv /tmp/x y

If sed's exit status is non-zero make will not perform the mv -- even
with the -k flag.  Of course, it will perform the mv with the -i
flag, but that is virtually never used.

Assuming the -i flag isn't used (or .SILENT: etc.), is one form
preferred over the other?  Right now I prefer the second form.

Comments?
-- 
Robert