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Re: make's .SILENT _not_ obsolescent
From: |
Paul D. Smith |
Subject: |
Re: make's .SILENT _not_ obsolescent |
Date: |
Sat, 3 May 2003 22:16:30 -0400 |
%% Dan Jacobson <address@hidden> writes:
dj> The following message is a courtesy copy of an article
dj> that has been posted to comp.unix.shell as well.
I can't imagine any even remote connection between this message and the
newsgroup comp.unix.shell, so I'm not including it in this reply.
dj> Dear GNU Make team, please cease and desist from saying .SILENT is a
dj> good for nothing old hag. First, the Info page:
dj> `.SILENT'
dj> If you specify prerequisites for `.SILENT', then `make' will not
dj> print the commands to remake those particular files before
dj> executing them. The commands for `.SILENT' are not meaningful.
dj> If mentioned as a target with no prerequisites, `.SILENT' says not
dj> to print any commands before executing them. This usage of
dj> `.SILENT' is supported only for historical compatibility. We
dj> recommend you use the more selective ways to silence specific
dj> commands. *Note Command Echoing: Echoing. If you want to silence
dj> all commands for a particular run of `make', use the `-s' or
dj> `--silent' option (*note Options Summary::).
dj> However lets say you have a target with many lines of commands after
dj> it, like getp in http://jidanni.org/makefile . Let's say we want to
dj> make getp silent, but don't want to have to remember to use "make -s"
dj> each time. Nor do we want to have to prefix each and every line of
dj> getp with a "@". We find that a simple ".SILENT: getp" fills our
dj> wishes better than the "more flexible ways". Therefore stop deriding
dj> it in the documentation, please.
Start _reading_ the documentation, please.
It specifically says that "_This_ usage [...] is supported only for
historical compatibility". And the usage it's talking about is clearly
the usage just described in the previous sentence; that is, using
.SILENT with no prerequisites.
Your example use is not impacted by this comment since you have
prerequisites.
--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul D. Smith <address@hidden> Find some GNU make tips at:
http://www.gnu.org http://make.paulandlesley.org
"Please remain calm...I may be mad, but I am a professional." --Mad Scientist