Date: Sat, 24 Apr 1999 17:15:16 -0400
Message-Id: <199904242115.RAA28358@envy.delorie.com>
From: DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com>
To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
In-reply-to: <MPG.118ad914b4b4801298a9e6@news.freeserve.net>
	(arg AT whangomatic DOT freeserve DOT co DOT uk)
Subject: Re: Why are tabs required in makefiles?
References:  <MPG DOT 118ad914b4b4801298a9e6 AT news DOT freeserve DOT net>
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> some actual tab characters into the makefile. I am just wondering why 
> tabs are required at all, especially seeing how in most actual code it 
> doesn't matter whether you indent things with tabs, spaces, or even 
> nothing at all.

So that make can tell the difference between its own commands (if,
else, include) which may be indented with spaces, and user commands
(ls, gcc, cp) which must be intended with at least a tab.

Yeah, it's a silly reason, but that's the way it's always been.