[Python-Dev] Makefile and dependencies

[Guido van Rossum]

> The Python Makefiles do not contain enough dependency information to
> do incremental builds safely.  If you change a .h file, none of the .c
> files that use it will be re-compiled unless they were also changed.
> This makes it a bit more tedious to test new code, because you need to
> do a make clean to be sure you're getting everything.
> 
> I know next-to-nothing about makefiles.  Is there anyone with some
> expertise in this area who could contribute better dependency
> information?  Or is the lack of dependency information a conscious
> decision? 

No, it's gradually been degraded.  There's a  "make depend" target
that's broken beyond repair.  I hope someone helps you to fix this!

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://dinsdale.python.org/~guido/)