In a Makefile, is "VARIABLE = value" equal to "VARIABLE=value?

Question

Simple question but there are so many things to consider in make that it feels better if I ask this question:

Is VARIABLE = value equal to VARIABLE=value?

jonrsharpe · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-18 08:48:41Z

3

Yes, they're the same. Per the docs:

Whitespace around the variable name and immediately after the ‘=’ is ignored.

answered Jul 18, 2019 at 8:48

jonrsharpe

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Comments

Matt · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-18 10:23:50Z

3

Just FYI, although VARIABLE := value is the same as VARIABLE:=value, but

VARIABLE:=$(undefined) value
# now VARIABLE is prepended with a space

is NOT. This is why the make's manual says "ignored immediately after equal sign".

Also, operator += always adds a space.

answered Jul 18, 2019 at 10:23

Matt

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