-@ precedes shell script, what does it mean

Question

please see the following code in busybox makefile

scripts/config/conf: scripts/config/Makefile
     $(MAKE) -C scripts/config conf
     -@if [ ! -f .config ] ; then \
       cp $(CONFIG_DEFCONFIG) .config; \
     fi

my question is that what does -@ before the if clause? it is really frustrating.

thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Read again GNU make documentation on recipes

The at sign @ disables echoing.

The minus sign - disables stop on error.

It is a make convention (not a shell one).