On Thu, 2020-11-05 at 09:57 +0000, Geoff Clare via austin-group-l at The Open Group wrote: > > > The aim here was to describe the cut-off-point where all include > > > file generation has been completed and after which the new > > > contents of the files is used. This cut-off-point needs to be > > > before make starts the "real work", i.e. starts the work to bring > > > the first target operand, or the first target make encounters if > > > there are no operands, up-to-date. > > Can we just say that? All include file regeneration is complete > > before make attempts to bring the first target_name operand, or the > > first target make encounters if no target is specified? > > If we simplify it too much, it won't be correct. For example, > consider the case where the first target_name operand is the name of > an include file that needs to be created.
I agree we can't over-simplify but I don't see a problem with the specific case you mention. For GNU make, at any rate, nothing special will be done if a target_name operand is also an include file. The include file will be rebuilt (if needed) as usual, then make will attempt to build the target_name operand and realize it's already up to date, and go on to the next one (or finish).
