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From: cim2@pyuxv.UUCP (Robert L. Fair)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: Re: Strange C-compiler message ...
Message-ID: <285@pyuxv.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-May-87 09:20:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxv.285
Posted: Fri May  8 09:20:05 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 10-May-87 01:07:37 EDT
References: <214@cjsa.UUCP>
Organization: CHC
Lines: 28

jeff@cjsa.UUCP writes:
>...
>The compiler ran for a time and then the following message was generates:
>
>	$! nulled, predecessor circle
>
>The compile finished without further event and "make" went on to complete the
>remainder of its work.  The program loaded and worked properly.
>
>The "$!" in the message seemed indicative of "make" but I find no reference
>to a $! variable in my copy of the "make" documentation - so I have assumed
>that the message was generated by the compiler.

The message does indeed come from make, it is spewed out when make
realises that one of the things it needs to make depends on the thing
you are making.

There is some bug in your makefile dependencies so that there is
a circular definition i.e. 
	xxx: aaaa
	aaaa: bbb
	bbb: xxx
or similar. Check the makefile with a fine tooth comb.
The message is documented in ... the make source code of course ;-)

Rob. Fair
Bell Communications Research/CHC
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