CODEWITHSUNDEEP
makefile
shwang
shwang

Reputation: 21

Makefile .PHONY target does not work as expected

I am writing a simple Makefile for practicing .PHONY target

#!/bin/make
dir/%/compile:
     @echo "The target '$@ had been built'"

In my working directory, the directory layout is as below

├── dir
│   └── subdir
│       └── compile
└── Makefile

When I type make dir/subdir/compile, it claimed the target is up to date as below

make: `dir/subdir/compile' is up to date.

It's right. But it still claimed the target is up to date even a .PHONY target is added as below

#/bin/make
.PHONY: dir/%/compile
dir/%/compile:
     @echo "The target '$@ had been built'"

As I know .PHONY can build the target unconditionally no matter the target exists or not However, it seemed not works as it should be. Could anyone help me figure it out? Thanks

Upvotes: 1

Views: 521

Answers (1)

MadScientist
MadScientist

Reputation: 100836

You cannot use patterns with .PHONY. Only true target names will work. You're just saying that the literal target named dir/%/compile is phony.

Upvotes: 3

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