Is GNU make wildcard able to match more complex patterns, like a regexp for example?

Question

Let's say I have the following wildcard matches in a makefile:

data-files = $(wildcard $(ptdf)/*.png) \
    $(wildcard $(ptdf)/*.gif) \
    $(wildcard $(ptdf)/*.bmp) \
    $(wildcard $(ptdf)/*.jpg) \
    $(wildcard $(ptdf)/*.ico) \
    $(wildcard $(ptdf)/*.dist) \
    $(wildcard $(ptdf)/*.html)

Can the wildcard syntax give me the power to match, for example, file names containing from 1 to 2 letters, as the regexp \w{1,2} would do? With no filename extension?

If not, how can I do that with other syntax with linux command (such as find, etc)?

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 12 '12 at 15:05

8

Downloading the source code and grepping for wildcard, we find the definition of the function on line 1332 of function.c—wildcard calls string_glob, which just does globbing, not regular expressions. And grepping the source code for regex turns up nothing :/

Since make has no built-in regex function, we'll have to use an external command. grepping for regex on the find(1) man page shows that the following will work:

data-files = $(shell find . -regextype posix-extended -regex '.*\.\w{1,2}')

answered Nov 12 '12 at 15:05

andrewdotn

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Just to clarify even more for seekers: This one is exactly what did the job: find . -maxdepth 1 -regextype posix-extended -regex '.*/\w{1,2}' It matches the files with one or two \w characters only, with no extension, in the current directory – PatlaDJ Nov 12 '12 at 17:23
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I really like the habit of **looking inside free software's source code**. I find that a lot of newbies are not using the freedom given by free software. – Basile Starynkevitch Nov 12 '12 at 19:56
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Basile Starynkevitch: When you say 'newbie', you should know, that I am software developer for at least 10+ years, and I accept your point only because I am into GNU / C++ stuff so recently. So yes, I am newbie in these. But what if? I just want the job done for now. Nothing else. The question is relevant and the answer is superb, what'ss the point of making 'parties' qualification? – PatlaDJ Nov 12 '12 at 20:07
I just say that you could have limited your comment to the habit of looking inside free software's source code, and skip the 'newbie' part. – PatlaDJ Nov 12 '12 at 20:13

Is GNU make wildcard able to match more complex patterns, like a regexp for example?

1 Answers1