How to get exit status of a shell command used in GNU Makefile?

Question

I have a makefile rule in while I am executing a linux tool. I need to check the exit status of the tool command, and if that command fails the make has to be aborted.

I tried checking with $?, $$? \$? etc in the makefile. But they gives me syntax error when makefile runs.

What is the right way to do this ?

Here is the relevant rule in Makefile

    mycommand \
    if [ $$? -ne 0 ]; \
    then \
        echo "mycommand failed"; \
        false; \
    fi

Answer 1

In the makefile-:

mycommand || (echo "mycommand failed $$?"; exit 1)

Each line in the makefile action invokes a new shell - the error must be checked in the action line where the command failed.

If mycommand fails the logic branches to the echo statement then exits.