pmake.sh

#!/bin/bash
# James Shubin, 2018
# run `make` in the first directory (or its parent recursively) that it works in
# https://purpleidea.com/blog/2018/03/10/running-make-from-anywhere/

MF='Makefile'	# looks for this file, could look for others, but that's silly
CWD=$(pwd)	# starting here

while true; do
	if [ -e "$MF" ]; then
		make $@		# run make!
		e=$?
		cd "$CWD"	# go home first
		exit $e		# pass on the exit status
	fi

	# stop if we get home
	if [ "$(pwd)" = "$HOME" ]; then
		cd "$CWD"
		exit 2		# the exit status of `make` when it errors
	fi

	#echo "searching..."
	cd ..			# go up one dir
done