Re: RFC: .ALIAS builtin pseudotarget

[Ian Dunbar]

> var.1 checks=1017755 commands=2000 files=2000
> var.2 checks=2005756 commands=0 files=2000
> phony.1 checks=19759 commands=2000 files=2000
> phony.2 checks=13759 commands=1000 files=2000
> alias.1 checks=20761 commands=2000 files=2000
> alias.2 checks=9762 commands=0 files=2000

Just to add one extra variation for comparison since it corresponds more
closely to how you are using .ALIAS in this example.

# Replace:
# .ALIAS : P
# P : $(P)
#
# With this:
P : $(P)
 touch $@

sentinel.1      checks=21762    commands=2001   files=2000
sentinel.2      checks=9756     commands=0      files=2000

So you can get similar performance already in make as it stands.

My opinion for what it's worth is that .ALIAS is a nice feature for
tidiness, you don't need to end up with sentinel files scattered around the
place, and is a kind of halfway house between .PHONY and a sentinel file.
You can use it as both an intermediate pre-requisite and a "short name".
It's not anything hugely new though, and it's usage is probably limited to a
certain style of project.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.767 / Virus Database: 514 - Release Date: 2004/09/21