@cindex recursive variable reference
@cindex variable reference, recursive
+Recursive variable references are a complicated concept needed only for
+very complex makefile programming. You need not worry about them in
+general, except to know that making a variable with a dollar sign in its
+name might have strange results. However, if you are the worrisome type or
+are actually interested in what they do, read on.
+
Variables may be referenced inside a variable reference. This is called
a @dfn{recursive variable reference}. For example,
the future if the need arises, but this is not likely since there are not
really any two functions you would want to give the same arguments.@refill
-Recursive variable references are a complicated concept needed only for
-very complex makefile programming. You need not worry about them in
-general, except to know that making a variable with a dollar sign in its
-name might have strange results. Note also that @dfn{recursive variable
-references} are quite different from @dfn{recursive variables}
-(@pxref{Flavors}), though both are used together in complex ways when
-doing makefile programming.@refill
+Note that @dfn{recursive variable references} are quite different from
+@dfn{recursively expanded variables} (@pxref{Flavors}), though both are
+used together in complex ways when doing makefile programming.@refill
@node Values, Flavors, Reference, Variables
@section How Variables Get Their Values
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. 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.)
+obviate the need for this feature. We are still debating whether to
+implement this for the sake of compatibility or to leave it out to avoid
+such terrible ugliness.@refill
@end itemize
@node Concept Index, Name Index, Missing, Top