> all variables are expanded exactly once - whether they are immediate or > deferred
No. It might sound like that but that's definitely, definitely, definitely not what happens. Deferred variables are expanded again every time they're used. I thought perhaps I'd quoted the wrong part of the documentation because, reading it again, I think you're right that it isn't clear. Searching for "deferred" didn't find me any other, clearer part. Perhaps a clarification patch would be in order. Try the := idea. I bet you can't break it. Another idea that might be more convincing: base = $(shell date --iso=ns 1>&2) That sends the output of date(1) to stderr, where you'll see it directly, once for each time it's invoked. ------------------------------------- Martin's Outlook, BlueArc Engineering _______________________________________________ Bug-make mailing list Bug-make@gnu.org http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-make
