Re: arithmetic, e.g. $(word $(num)-1,$(list))

[Markus Mauhart]

> "Mike Gibson" <address@hidden> wrote ...
>
> > Q1: is there another way for computing an arithmetic expression
> >     except $(shell echo $$((expression))) ?
>
> $(shell echo $(expression) | bc)

Thanks Mike, that solved it for me !
Actually it is $(shell echo expression | bc).
So the now working makefile is ...

//-----makefile-----
list := eins zwei drei
num := $(words $(list))
num_minus_1 := $(shell echo $(num) - 1 | bc)

all:
    @echo num = $(num)
    echo $(num) - 1 | bc
    @echo num_minus_1 = $(num_minus_1)


//----inside cygwin's bash----
//1st test the shell's arithmetic directly:
$ echo 3-1 | bc
2
//now run make:
$ make
num = 3
echo 3 - 1 | bc
2
num_minus_1 = 2
$