> But it still falls over if you put in a space versus a tab It fails only in a certain part of the script where tab is part of the syntax. It is like saying P

> But it still falls over if you put in a space versus a tab It fails only in a certain part of the script where tab is part of the syntax. It is like saying Python language fails if I add a wrong number of spaces, or replace a space with a tab, since white spaces are part of the Python syntax. > Even the fact makefiles have no extension is confusing How is that confusing, the entire filename (makefile) is "the extension" :-) Put .mk at the end of the file name if that makes you happy and less "outdated" and "idiosyncratic". C/C++ does not require extension either, it is just a convention. Ever seen <vector>, <algorithm>, <iostream> etc?