getting warmer error messages

[Dan Jacobson]

Certainly you could give slightly different messages instead of the
same "I don't know, don't bother me" style message below. Just like we
tell little Johnny "No, but you are getting warmer" instead of just "No".
$ ls
Makefile
$ cat Makefile
%.aa:%.bb
        : bla
make uuuuu
make: *** No rule to make target `uuuuu'.  Stop.
$ $ make x.aa
make: *** No rule to make target `x.aa'.  Stop.
$ make x.bb
make: *** No rule to make target `x.bb'.  Stop.
$ touch x.bb
$ make x.aa
: bla
$ cat Makefile2
%.aa:%.bb xxzzz
        : bla
$ make -f Makefile2 x.aa
make: *** No rule to make target `x.aa'.  Stop.

Indeed, when the prosecutor asks "have you any knowledge at all of Mr.
Williams?" and you say "No" whilst right there in your Makefile rules
is his name, well, you better give a slightly different answer lest
they hook you up to the lie detector machine.

Say "well, yes, but ....", and don't make them have to strap you to
the debugging table to squeeze it out of you.