@cindex processing a makefile
@cindex makefile, how @code{make} processes
-By default, @code{make} starts with the first rule (not counting rules
-whose target names start with @samp{.}). This is called the
-@dfn{default goal}. (@dfn{Goals} are the targets that @code{make}
-strives ultimately to update. @xref{Goals, , Arguments to Specify the
-Goals}.)
+By default, @code{make} starts with the first target (not targets whose
+names start with @samp{.}). This is called the @dfn{default goal}.
+(@dfn{Goals} are the targets that @code{make} strives ultimately to
+update. @xref{Goals, , Arguments to Specify the Goals}.)
@cindex default goal
@cindex goal, default
@cindex goal
@code{.DEFAULT} special target; @pxref{Implicit Rules} and
@pxref{Last Resort, ,Defining Last-Resort Default Rules}).@refill
+@c !!! another reason is for canonical stamp files:
+@ignore
+foo: stamp-foo ;
+stamp-foo: foo.in
+ create foo frm foo.in
+ touch $@
+@end ignore
+
You may be inclined to define empty command strings for targets that are
not actual files, but only exist so that their dependencies can be
remade. However, this is not the best way to do that, because the