Idea: Allow $(name ...) as an abbrevation of $(call name ....)

[David A. Wheeler]

I propose allowing $(name ...) as an abbrevation of $(call name ....).

Problem:
You currently have to use the somewhat ugly construct $(call name...)
to call something.  If you use functions a lot that's a little ugly.

There's also no need for it. If "name" is followed by whitespace it *cannot*
be a POSIX variable reference, because POSIX doesn't allow that.

Solution:
Just allow $(name ...), where 1+ whitespace follows name, to be considered
the same as $(call name...).

I would allow $(no-parameters ), with a space after the name and no parameters,
though in practice I don't think that's very useful.  If you really wanted that 
(why?),
I think $(call no-parameters) would be clearer as a call, and $(no-parameters)
seems more useful :-).

Okay, that's my final of 4 ideas (well, at least for the moment :-) ).

--- David A. Wheeler