Timestamps in GNU make aren't checked when relying on VPATH

[Jason Greenfield <Jgreenfield@RSA.com>]

Hi,

I hope someone can help me with this problem because I'm stumped at this
point.

I have an automated build system for a java product that makes use of
VPATH heavily. The reason for this is that I need to keep 4 separate
builds of the .class files -- release full version, release partial
version, debug full version, and debug partial version. In other words,
when I build I deposit the .class files in four separate directories.
I set VPATH for each different version to ensure that make can find the
proper .class files for a given build.

At this point, if a .class file is not found in the current directory or
VPATH, make correctly rebuilds the needed .class files. However, the problem
comes when I update the .java file (edit or touch the file changing the
timestamp). Make never realizes this and says that everything is up-to-date.
This problem takes much of make's usefulness away, as I have to remember
which .class files to delete to have make re-build them.

I'm not sure if this is a bug with make, with VPATH, or with my
understanding of make (most likely), but I'm hoping someone out there
might have some good advice to resolve this problem. I couldn't find
anything
close in the FAQ and the stuff about VPATH in the mailing list archives
didn't
help any either.

Thanks in advance,

-- Jason Greenfield
Release Engineer
RSA Data Security, Inc.

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