So I hit <send> too soon...
> I would to be able to expand Gnu make variables and macros appearing in a > text file using values of .VARIABLES in the current execution environment. > > This in effect is using Gnu make as a kind of [Template > processor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_processor). > > I find that this rule only copies the contents without expansion/interpolation > > %.expanded: % > $(file >$@,$(file < $<)) > > However the following seems to do exactly what I desire: > > define \n := > > > endef > > %.expanded: % > $(file >$@,$(eval define .x:=${\n}$(file < $<)${\n}endef ${\n})${.x}) The problem with this approach is that, though it expands "correctly", it builds the target during the first phase of reading the makefile (c.f. [How make Reads a Makefile](https://www.gnu.org/software/make/manual/make.html#Reading-Makefiles)) and thus standard dependency processing is precluded, which is decidedly unfavorable. > > My question is whether this is the best/fastest way to do what I desire. My question is changed and is now how to accomplish this in the second phase. > > Thoughts? Recommendations? Gothcas?
