SECONDEXPANSION and implicit rule recursion don't work

Question

I typed make aaa.zzz after touch a b c. I got nothing. No stdout, no stderr. Why?

GNU Make 3.82

It doesn't work.

.SECONDEXPANSION: 

%.xxx: $$(shell echo a b c)
    echo in xxx

%.zzz: %.xxx $$(shell echo a b)
    echo in zzz

It works. (echo a b to echo a b c)

.SECONDEXPANSION: 

%.xxx: $$(shell echo a b c)
    echo in xxx

%.zzz: %.xxx $$(shell echo a b c)
    echo in zzz

It works. (echo a b c to echo b c)

.SECONDEXPANSION: 

%.xxx: $$(shell echo b c)
    echo in xxx

%.zzz: %.xxx $$(shell echo a b)
    echo in zzz

It works. (echo a b to echo a)

.SECONDEXPANSION: 

%.xxx: $$(shell echo a b c)
    echo in xxx

%.zzz: %.xxx $$(shell echo a)
    echo in zzz

-d says as below.

> make aaa.zzz -d
GNU Make 3.82
Built for x86_64-redhat-linux-gnu
...
Updating goal targets....
Considering target file `aaa.zzz'.
 File `aaa.zzz' does not exist.
 Looking for an implicit rule for `aaa.zzz'.
 Trying pattern rule with stem `aaa'.
 Trying implicit prerequisite `aaa.xxx'.
 Trying pattern rule with stem `aaa.zzz'.
 Trying implicit prerequisite `aaa.zzz,v'.
 Trying pattern rule with stem `aaa.zzz'.
 Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/aaa.zzz,v'.
 Trying pattern rule with stem `aaa.zzz'.
 Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/aaa.zzz'.
 Trying pattern rule with stem `aaa.zzz'.
 Trying implicit prerequisite `s.aaa.zzz'.
 Trying pattern rule with stem `aaa.zzz'.
 Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.aaa.zzz'.
 Trying pattern rule with stem `aaa'.
 Trying implicit prerequisite `aaa.xxx'.
 Looking for a rule with intermediate file `aaa.xxx'.
  Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `aaa'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `a'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `b'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `c'.
 Trying implicit prerequisite `a'.
 Trying implicit prerequisite `b'.
(END)

Can't reproduce, the first snippet works for me. Make 4.4.1. — HolyBlackCat
– HolyBlackCat, Commented Jul 6 at 12:21
Oh, I have confirmed that it works on my laptop (GNU Make 4.2.1). Also, I installed GNU Make 4.4 and it resolved. Really thanks. — karsu
– karsu, Commented Jul 6 at 12:51
You're welcome. I suggest posting an answer explaining that this is a Make bug. And then pressing the checkmark on it to mark the question as solved. — HolyBlackCat
– HolyBlackCat, Commented Jul 6 at 13:26
Thanks for the advice and the guidance on the flow of this site. Sorry for late reply. — karsu
– karsu, Commented Jul 16 at 13:33

karsu · Accepted Answer · 2025-07-16 13:29:40Z

1

This may be a bug in GNU Make 3.82. After I upgraded to GNU Make 4.4, the issue was resolved.

answered Jul 16 at 13:29

karsu

113 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

SECONDEXPANSION and implicit rule recursion don't work

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related