tux% make --version
GNU Make 4.2.1
Built for x86_64-pc-linux-gnu
Copyright (C) 1988-2016 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

tux% cd base-3.16
tux% make -sq || echo Build required
tux% touch src/std/rec/aaiRecord.dbd 
tux% make -sq || echo Build required
Build required
tux% make -sj
tux% make -sq || echo Build required
tux% cd ..

'make -q' works for Base, but Base doesn't actually use genVersionHeader.pl itself so let's try an example application, which does:

tux% mkdir example
tux% ../base-3.16/bin/linux-x86_64/makeBaseApp.pl -t example example
tux% tux% make -sq || echo Build required
Build required
tux% make -s
tux% make -sq || echo Build required
Build required

Oops, why's that?


tux% make -q --no-print-directory || echo Build required
make -C ./configure install 
make -C O.linux-x86_64 -f ../Makefile TOP=../.. \
    T_A=linux-x86_64 install
perl -CSD /local/anj/base-3.16/bin/linux-x86_64/convertRelease.pl checkRelease
make -C O.vxWorks-ppc32 -f ../Makefile TOP=../.. \
    T_A=vxWorks-ppc32 install
perl -CSD /local/anj/base-3.16/bin/linux-x86_64/convertRelease.pl checkRelease
make -C O.RTEMS-uC5282 -f ../Makefile TOP=../.. \
    T_A=RTEMS-uC5282 install
perl -CSD /local/anj/base-3.16/bin/linux-x86_64/convertRelease.pl checkRelease
make -C O.windows-x64-mingw -f ../Makefile TOP=../.. \
    T_A=windows-x64-mingw install
perl -CSD /local/anj/base-3.16/bin/linux-x86_64/convertRelease.pl checkRelease
make -C ./exampleApp install 
make -C ./src install 
make -C O.linux-x86_64 -f ../Makefile TOP=../../.. \
    T_A=linux-x86_64 install
perl -CSD /local/anj/base-3.16/bin/linux-x86_64/genVersionHeader.pl  -i -t ../../.. -N exampleVERSION -V "" ../O.Common/exampleVersion.h
Updating VCS header ../O.Common/exampleVersion.h
    exampleVERSION = "2018-10-18T16:16-0500"
make[3]: *** No rule to make target '../O.Common/exampleVersion.h', needed by 'devexampleVersion.o'.  Stop.
make[2]: *** [/local/anj/base-3.16/configure/RULES_ARCHS:58: install.linux-x86_64] Error 2
make[1]: *** [/local/anj/base-3.16/configure/RULES_DIRS:84: src.install] Error 2
make: *** [/local/anj/base-3.16/configure/RULES_DIRS:84: exampleApp.install] Error 2
Build required


I don't have time to investigate myself right now, but it looks like this doesn't actually do what it's supposed to. One more test with an older GNUmake:

tux% /bin/make --version
GNU Make 3.82
Built for x86_64-redhat-linux-gnu
Copyright (C) 2010  Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
tux% /bin/make -q --no-print-directory || echo Build required
/bin/make -C ./configure install 
/bin/make -C O.linux-x86_64 -f ../Makefile TOP=../.. \
    T_A=linux-x86_64 install
perl -CSD /local/anj/base-3.16/bin/linux-x86_64/convertRelease.pl checkRelease
/bin/make -C O.vxWorks-ppc32 -f ../Makefile TOP=../.. \
    T_A=vxWorks-ppc32 install
perl -CSD /local/anj/base-3.16/bin/linux-x86_64/convertRelease.pl checkRelease
/bin/make -C O.RTEMS-uC5282 -f ../Makefile TOP=../.. \
    T_A=RTEMS-uC5282 install
perl -CSD /local/anj/base-3.16/bin/linux-x86_64/convertRelease.pl checkRelease
/bin/make -C O.windows-x64-mingw -f ../Makefile TOP=../.. \
    T_A=windows-x64-mingw install
perl -CSD /local/anj/base-3.16/bin/linux-x86_64/convertRelease.pl checkRelease
/bin/make -C ./exampleApp install 
/bin/make -C ./src install 
/bin/make -C O.linux-x86_64 -f ../Makefile TOP=../../.. \
    T_A=linux-x86_64 install
perl -CSD /local/anj/base-3.16/bin/linux-x86_64/genVersionHeader.pl  -i -t ../../.. -N exampleVERSION -V "" ../O.Common/exampleVersion.h
Updating VCS header ../O.Common/exampleVersion.h
    exampleVERSION = "2018-10-18T16:20-0500"
make[3]: *** No rule to make target `../O.Common/exampleVersion.h', needed by `devexampleVersion.o'.  Stop.
make[2]: *** [install.linux-x86_64] Error 2
make[1]: *** [src.install] Error 2
make: *** [exampleApp.install] Error 2
Build required