dependency problem with -l library prereqs?

[Karen Paffendorf]

Hi,

I am having problems in trying to use a dependency on a -l  if the 
directory the library is built in does not exist when the build starts.
(See below for simple example.)

I know how to work around the problem by depending on the file 
explicately and linking it in with -L and -l on the command line,
but was hoping to use this nifty looking syntax. Seemed like it would 
help in using more generalized rules.

Karen
> --- Begin Message ---
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> Date: 
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> Thu, 1 Dec 2005 17:21:08 -0800 (PST)
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> # Simple make file to reproduce "knowing how to make library" failure
>
> #$ gmake -f pre.mk whatever
> #gmake: *** No rule to to make target `-lmy', needed by `whatever'.  Stop.
> #$ mkdir exists
> #$ gmake -f pre.mk whatever DIR=exists
> #touch exists/libmy.so
> #exists/libmy.so
> #$
>
>
>
> DIR=not_exists
>
> $(DIR):
>         mkdir -p $(DIR)
>
> $(DIR)/libmy.so:
>         touch $@
>
> whatever: -lmy
>         @echo $^
>
> vpath libmy% $(DIR)
>
>
> --- End Message ---