Make command

[Timothy P. Jackson]

When using the Make command, does it actually compile the C code again? I am running a make command and it tells me that the -A option is used only with Ansi C and so the option is ignored. The code that is being brought into the make command is only object code, so why does it care if the Ansi C compiler is on the system.

Any insite on this would be greatly appreciated!

Tim

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Hi Tim:

The 'make' utility analyzes the 'makefile' contents to ascertain if any of the objects are out-of-date and need to be re-compiled and/or relinked. If so, the appropriate actions are taken.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Steven Schweda]

> When using the Make command, does it
> actually compile the C code again? [...]

It does what the makefile tells it to do.
With my weak psychic powers, I can't see
what's in your makefile, nor what you've done
so far.

> [...] it tells me [...]

_WHO_ tells you? As usual, showing actual
commands with their actual error messages can
be more helpful than vague descriptions and
interpretations.

For starters, what is this system?

uname -a

This sounds like an attempt to use a (lame)
bundled C compiler to do some serious work,
for which it was not intended. But with
approximately no useful information, it's
hard to be sure.

> [...] so why does it care [...]

Why does _WHO_ care? If you're trying to use
C compiler options which don't exist on your
C compiler, then the compiler might care.

[Dennis Handly]

>does it actually compile the C code again?

Only if your .c files are newer than your .o files.

>why does it care if the ANSI C compiler is on the system.

The cc driver doesn't bother to use advanced AI technology to determine that the option specified would be ignored anyway. Since you didn't pay for it, the cost would be too high.

[Timothy P. Jackson]

Thanks everyone!

I think I understand now what I am looking at.

Thanks again!

Tim

[Steven Schweda]

> Jul 19, 2010 16:13:41 GMT 2 pts

And what would you say that the (nearly
information-free) question was worth?

By the way,

man make

explains a few basic facts about "make".