Q: How to delete all out of date targets

[Cook, Malcolm]

Hi,

Is it possible using Gnu Make to delete all out of date targets?

I had previously posted this as a Feature Request (as below), but realize I may 
be ignorant of a known method for doing what I desire, and positing it as a 
question might get a reply from someone in the know.

Thanks,

Malcolm

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cook, Malcolm
> Sent: Sunday, March 7, 2021 22:03
> To: help-make@gnu.org; psmith@gnu.org
> Subject: Feature Request: option to delete all out of date targets
> 
> Hallo, Paul & Make cognoscenti,
> 
> It seem GNU Make does not provide a way to detect and remove out of date
> targets.
> 
> It also seems that providing such a capability would be consistent with the
> purpose of Make.
> 
> I think what I am asking for is an option that identifies the identical 
> targets as
> does `--touch` but instead of `touch`ing the identified targets, it deletes 
> them.
> 
> I often find myself in a position of not wanting (yet) to re-make out of date
> targets, but to simply remove them.  FWIW, if it matters to the consideration,
> I wish for this mainly when using make in less conventional ways - as a
> means of implementing a scientific workflow.
> 
> Thoughts? Considerations?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Malcolm Cook
> Manager, Database Applications
> Big Data AI and Genomics
> Stowers Institute for Medical Research