0001650: Words 'prerequisite' and 'dependency' used interchangeably

Notes
(0006240) cmsmith (reporter) 2023-04-01 13:43	This is a not a straightforward editorial change, as, I regard the two terms are not the same and have distinct meanings, albeit their usage is imperfect in the description of the <make> utility. I believe the term "prerequisite" implies something that must be done first, so, in the context of the <make> utility, it would be another target (possibly phony or possibly implicit). Calling the list of files for creating a target would be better called a "dependency list". That dependency list may contain simple filenames and also the prerequisite target names. If others do not make the semantic distinction between the terms "dependency" and "prerequisite", I would still favour the more usual term "dependency" over "prerequisite" if the consensus were to stick with one or the other.

(0006300) geoffclare (manager) 2023-06-01 16:02	The original POSIX.2-1992 standard was careful to use "prerequisite" throughout. Uses of "dependency" have crept in via the SCCS features from The Single UNIX Specification, version 2, and in some edits made since the 2018 edition of the standard. The rationale contains a reference to "The System V dynamic dependency feature" which should remain, as that is what it was called historically.

(0006301) Don Cragun (manager) 2023-06-01 16:04 edited on: 2023-06-01 16:07	On page 3107 line 104641 section make, change: A target shall be considered up-to-date if it exists and is newer than all of its dependencies to: A target shall be considered up-to-date if it exists and is newer than all of its prerequisites On page 3111 line 104824 section make, change: When source files are named in a dependency list, make treats them just like any other target. Because the source file is presumed to be present in the directory, there is no need to add an entry for it to the makefile. When a target has no dependencies, but is present in the directory, make assumes that that file is up-to-date. to: When source files are named in a list of prerequisites, make treats them just like any other target. Because the source file is presumed to be present in the directory, there is no need to add an entry for it to the makefile. When a target has no prerequisites, but is present in the directory, make assumes that that file is up-to-date. On page 3116 line 105066 section make, change: Dependencies added by target rules without commands to: Prerequisites added by target rules without commands

Issue History
Date Modified	Username	Field	Change
2023-03-31 08:46	rillig	New Issue
2023-03-31 08:46	rillig	Name	=> Roland Illig
2023-03-31 08:46	rillig	Section	=> make
2023-03-31 08:46	rillig	Page Number	=> 3103-3136
2023-04-01 13:43	cmsmith	Note Added: 0006240
2023-06-01 16:02	geoffclare	Note Added: 0006300
2023-06-01 16:04	Don Cragun	Note Added: 0006301
2023-06-01 16:07	Don Cragun	Final Accepted Text	=> See Note: 0006301.
2023-06-01 16:07	Don Cragun	Status	New => Resolved
2023-06-01 16:07	Don Cragun	Resolution	Open => Accepted As Marked
2023-06-01 16:07	Don Cragun	Note Edited: 0006301
2023-06-01 16:09	Don Cragun	Tag Attached: issue8
2023-06-13 11:18	geoffclare	Status	Resolved => Applied
2023-06-13 11:19	geoffclare	Tag Attached: applied_after_i8d3
2024-06-11 09:12	agadmin	Status	Applied => Closed

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