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How to get exit status of a shell command used in GNU Makefile?

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Original source (stackoverflow.com)
Tags: shell-scripting make stackoverflow.com
Clipped on: 2015-10-02

I have a makefile rule in while I am executing a linux tool. I need to check the exit status of the tool command, and if that command fails the make has to be aborted.

I tried checking with $?, $$? \$? etc in the makefile. But they gives me syntax error when makefile runs.

What is the right way to do this ?

Here is the relevant rule in Makefile

    mycommand \
    if [ $$? -ne 0 ] \
    then \
        echo "mycommand failed" \
        false \
    fi
asked May 1 '13 at 8:36
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Lunar Mushrooms
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Have you tried echo $?? This can help --> cyberciti.biz/faq/… –  fedorqui May 1 '13 at 8:37
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Eh? Make automatically checks the exit status of the tool, and aborts on error. A simple mycommand suffices, no? –  bobbogo May 1 '13 at 9:10
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The syntax error comes from make removing the line breaks before passing the text block to the shell. Simply add ;s to the end of each line (apart from the then and fi) and your snippet will lose its syntax errors. –  bobbogo May 1 '13 at 9:11
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@bobbogo, thanks it worked. The syntax error was due to missing ; –  Lunar Mushrooms May 1 '13 at 10:27
up vote 7 down vote accepted

In the makefile-:

mycommand || (echo "mycommand failed $$?"; exit 1)

Each line in the makefile action invokes a new shell - the error must be checked in the action line where the command failed.

If mycommand fails the logic branches to the echo statement then exits.

answered May 1 '13 at 8:49
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suspectus
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Thanks , I had to use $$? too –  Lunar Mushrooms May 1 '13 at 10:35

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