Checking file generation for a test script

[SF Markus Elfring]

Hello,

I have tried the following small script out together with the program
“GNU Make 4.2.1-1.7” on my openSUSE Tumbleweed system.


my_compilation?=echo
my_preparation?=cat
footer?=MOTD.txt
prepared_file?=MOTD.in

MOTD%.log: MOTD%.txt MOTD%.in
        ${my_compilation} "$<: $$(cat ${prepared_file} ${footer})" > $@

${prepared_file}: MOTD.draft
        ${my_preparation} $< > $@


address@hidden:~/Projekte/Bau> my_message=MOTD.log && rm -f ${my_message}; 
touch MOTD.draft MOTD.txt && LANG=C make --no-builtin-rules -f 
../rule-check2.make && LANG=C ls -l MOTD.in ${my_message}
cat MOTD.draft > MOTD.in
ls: cannot access 'MOTD.log': No such file or directory
-rw-r--r-- 1 elfring users 6 Jun 18 12:56 MOTD.in


Now I wonder why the log file is not generated by this build approach at the 
end.
Where is my knowledge and understanding incomplete for this software situation?

Regards,
Markus