(make.info.gz) Command Syntax
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5.1 Command Syntax
==================
Makefiles have the unusual property that there are really two distinct
syntaxes in one file. Most of the makefile uses `make' syntax (
Writing Makefiles Makefiles.). However, commands are meant to be
interpreted by the shell and so they are written using shell syntax.
The `make' program does not try to understand shell syntax: it performs
only a very few specific translations on the content of the command
before handing it to the shell.
Each command line must start with a tab, except that the first
command line may be attached to the target-and-prerequisites line with a
semicolon in between. _Any_ line in the makefile that begins with a
tab and appears in a "rule context" (that is, after a rule has been
started until another rule or variable definition) will be considered a
command line for that rule. Blank lines and lines of just comments may
appear among the command lines; they are ignored.
Some consequences of these rules include:
* A blank line that begins with a tab is not blank: it's an empty
command ( Empty Commands).
* A comment in a command line is not a `make' comment; it will be
passed to the shell as-is. Whether the shell treats it as a
comment or not depends on your shell.
* A variable definition in a "rule context" which is indented by a
tab as the first character on the line, will be considered a
command line, not a `make' variable definition, and passed to the
shell.
* A conditional expression (`ifdef', `ifeq', etc. Syntax of
Conditionals Conditional Syntax.) in a "rule context" which is
indented by a tab as the first character on the line, will be
considered a command line and be passed to the shell.
Menu
* Splitting Lines Breaking long command lines for readability.
* Variables in Commands Using `make' variables in commands.
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