bin/bash: -c: line 0: syntax error near unexpected token `;;'

Question

I am trying to setup android environment for the android source build. I think the make version on the system was causing problems with the android build. I am now trying to install make from the sources I downloaded from http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/make/ . I frist configure it then run make which gives me this error. Been trying to debug this by changing things in the error line.

root@hali-desktop:/home/hali/Downloads/make-3.81# make
/bin/bash: -c: line 0: syntax error near unexpected token `;;'
/bin/bash: -c: line 0: `if test ! -f config.h; then  rm -f stamp-h1;  make stamph1;;      
else :; fi'
make: *** [config.h] Error 1

Here is the Makefile in the code that I am trying to compile.

    config.h: stamp-h1
    @if test ! -f $@; then \
      rm -f stamp-h1; \
      $(MAKE) stamp-h1; \
    else :; fi

I dont understand shell scripting much. Though did study a lil for the troubleshooting sake. I need help from here .

Answer 1

It looks that you try to build 'make' with the help of a broken 'make'.

GNU make comes with a script to build make without the need for a (working) make. After unpacking do:

$ ./configure
$ bash build.sh

The GNU 'make' executable is placed in the current directory.

BTW: It would be helpful if you could also give some information about the host system - e.g. the system where you want to build make.