Consider the following simple makefile:
define HELP_MSG
Usage:\n
make help -show this message\n
make help -show spaces and then this message\n
endef
export HELP_MSG
help:
@echo $$HELP_MSG
which outputs:
Usage:
make help -show this message
make help -show spaces and then this message
How can I have @echo respect the extra spacing on the second output line?
There is no portable way to print formatted text with echo. The -e option to echo is not standardized and not all versions of echo support -e. You should never try to print anything other than simple text that you know does not begin with a dash (-). Basically, anything other than a simple static string.
For anything more complex, you should use printf.
Also, if you want to print non-trivial text you MUST quote it, otherwise the shell will interpret it and mess it up for you.
help:
@printf '%s\n' "$$HELP_MSG"
You can use -e along with echo and use tab for space. Eg:
define HELP_MSG
Usage:\n
make help -show this message\n
make help \t-show spaces and then this message\n
endef
export HELP_MSG
help:
@echo -e $$HELP_MSG
To add custom spaces, use printf or " " in echo. Eg:
define HELP_MSG
Usage:\n
make help -show this message\n
make help -show spaces and then this message\n
endef
export HELP_MSG
help:
@echo -e "$$HELP_MSG"
@printf '%s\n' "$$HELP_MSG"
