consider makefile:
var1=oneword var2=two words var3=three" quoted "words test: printf '>%s< ' "$(var1)" "$(var2)" "$(var3)" @echo if run it, get
$ make test printf '>%s< ' "oneword" "two words" "three" quoted "words" >oneword< >two words< >three< >quoted< >words< print but same result if ran following command:
$ printf '>%s< ' "oneword" "two words" "three\" quoted \"words" >oneword< >two words< >three" quoted "words< assume cannot change variables, i.e. have change call printf somehow.
in other words: how pass content of make variable shell command 1 parameter, without splitting several or specific shell effects occurring?
make supports export directive pass literal content through environment:
var1=oneword var2=two words var3=three" quoted "words export var1 export var2 export var3 test: printf '>%s< ' "$$var1" "$$var2" "$$var3" echo output:
$ make test printf '>%s< ' "$var1" "$var2" "$var3" >oneword< >two words< >three" quoted "words< echo 