Node: CVS " This timestamp shift is troublesome when both sources and generated files are kept under CVS. Because CVS processes files in alphabetical order, `configure.ac' will appear older than `configure' after a `cvs update' that updates both files, even if `configure' was newer than `configure.ac' when it was checked in. Calling `make' will then trigger a spurious rebuild of `configure'."
You mean "appear newer", not "appear older", as "configure.ac" is lexically after "configure". If configure.ac "appeared older" than configure, then configure would not be rebuilt, spuriously or otherwise.
By the way, "alphabetical order" should be "lexical order". -- http://rrt.sc3d.org/ | romantic, n. one who puts ideas before people
