cannot create executables gcc: ./specs is a directory

Question

I am trying to compile libXaw-1.0.10 , and while configuring i get: gcc: ./specs is a directory

I tried to compile a basic helloworld.c and when i created "specs" directory, my compilation failed!

• What is the cause for this behaviour ?

this solves the issue , but why gcc is unable to ignore ":" at the end of (library & ld_library )path file list?