Include multiline python code into a Makefile

Question

When I'm working on a bash script and need to write a particularly complex logic I usually fall back on using python, like this:

#!/bin/bash

function foo() {
    python << END
if 1:
    print "hello"
END
}

foo

How can I do the same thing from within a Makefile?

Answer 1

You may write a bash script containing your functions, say myscript.sh :

#!/bin/bash

foo() {
    python << END
if 1:
    print "hello $1"
END
}

Now here is a Makefile :

SHELL = /bin/bash

mytarget ::
    @source myscript.sh ;\
    foo world

Finally type in your terminal:

$ make mytarget
hello world

Some explanations on the Makefile : defining SHELL let make know which shell to run. The :: stands for phony target (and a little more); you can replace it with : for an actual target.

The key point is to run source and call the function in the same shell, that is, in the same line (since make run a different shell for each line); this is achieved by ;\\ at the end of each line.