Re: Recursive make

[Paul D. Smith]

%% Grumble <address@hidden> writes:

  g> SUBDIRS = (a list of subdirectories)

  g> default clobber clean debug:
  g>    for dir in $(SUBDIRS); do make -C $$dir $@; done

  g> 1) One shouldn't call make explicitely.
  g> => Instead, one should call $(MAKE) or prefix the whole command with +

Correct.  Actually you should always use $(MAKE): using "+" is better
than nothing but not equivalent.

  g> 2) The 'for' loop ignores errors, and runs to completion.
  g> => The manual suggests using .PHONY targets.

  g> I don't see how I can use .PHONY targets to get rid of the loop.

  g> For example, if I run 'make debug', make should recursively run
  g> 'make debug' within every subdirectory. Is there a simple way to
  g> do that?

In simple cases you can do something like this:

    SUBDIRS = (list of subdirectories)
    TARGETS = all default clobber clean debug

    .PHONY: $(TARGETS) $(SUBDIRS)

    $(TARGETS): $(SUBDIRS)

    $(SUBDIRS):
            $(MAKE) -C $@ $(MAKECMDGOALS)

-- 
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 Paul D. Smith <address@hidden>          Find some GNU make tips at:
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 "Please remain calm...I may be mad, but I am a professional." --Mad Scientist