@item
Support for suffix @samp{.a} in suffix rules. In GNU @code{make},
-this is actually implemented by chaining with one pattern rule for
+this is actually implemented by changing with one pattern rule for
installing members in an archive. @xref{Chained Rules}.@refill
@item
@itemize @bullet
@item
-Pattern rules using @samp{%}.
-This has been implemented in several versions of @code{make}.
-We're not sure who invented it first, but it's been spread around a bit.
-@xref{Pattern Rules}.@refill
-
-@item
-Rule chaining and implicit intermediate files.
-This was implemented by Stu Feldman in his version of @code{make}
-for AT&T Eighth Edition Research Unix, and later by Andrew Hume of
-AT&T Bell Labs in his @code{mk} program. We don't really know if
-we got this from either of them or thought it up ourselves at the
-same time. @xref{Chained Rules}.
+Pattern rules using @samp{%}. @xref{Pattern Rules}.
@item
The automatic variable @code{$^} containing a list of all dependencies
@item
Phony targets declared with the special target @code{.PHONY}.
-A similar feature with a different syntax was implemented by
-Andrew Hume of AT&T Bell Labs in his @code{mk} program. This
-seems to be a case of parallel discovery. @xref{Phony Targets}.
+@xref{Phony Targets}.
@item
Text manipulation by calling functions. @xref{Functions}.
@xref{Avoid Compilation}.
@item
-Conditional execution.
-This has been implemented numerous times in various versions of
-@code{make}; it seems a natural extension derived from the features
-of the C preprocessor and similar macro languages and is not a
-revolutionary concept. @xref{Conditionals}.
+Conditional execution. @xref{Conditionals}.
@item
Included makefiles never determine the default goal.
of @code{make} recursion. @xref{Recursion}.
@item
+Rule chaining and implicit intermediate files. @xref{Chained Rules}.
+
+@item
Static pattern rules. @xref{Static Pattern}.
@item
In System V and 4.3 BSD @code{make}, files found by @code{VPATH} search
(@pxref{Directory Search}) have their names changed inside command strings.
We feel it is much cleaner to always use automatic variables and thus
-obviate the need for this feature. We are still debating whether to
-implement this to be compatible or to leave it out to avoid such ugliness.
+obviate the need for this feature. However, this feature may be
+implemented in the near future for the sake of compatibility. (In fact, it
+may be implemented before anyone but the author reads this paragraph.)
@end itemize
@node Concept Index, Name Index, Missing, Top