From: A Large Angry SCM Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 15:32:12 GMT Subject: Re: [PATCH/RFC] "Recursive Make considered harmful" Message-ID: <42E7A8FC.3080904@gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <20050727143720.GG7410@birddog.com> Kirby C. Bohling wrote: > On Wed, Jul 27, 2005 at 10:25:10AM -0400, A Large Angry SCM wrote: >>Ryan Anderson wrote: >>>Convert build process from recurse Make to a single Make >>> >>Please explain the rational for this. > > I'm new to the list, but given the subject, I'm fairly confident > it's this. > > http://www.canb.auug.org.au/~millerp/rmch/recu-make-cons-harm.html > ... > > He used the exact wording just about everyone dones when referring > to it conceptually. It's easy to google for support and rebuttal: > > http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Recursive+Make+considered+harmful&btnG=Google+Search Thanks for the references. A quick read of the paper and some of the rebuttals make me think that either way (recursive/non-recursive): * require about the same amount of makefile/dependency maintenance work from developers. * allow developers to be lazy in different ways with makefiles/dependencies. * achieves the same end. The non-recursive make method may have a small advantage for developers using Git for their SCM because the Git operations are also performed at the top level due to Git's design.