title: Using bash variables in Makefile
body: <p>I want to use the bash timing variables in my makefile
  for example in my terminal I can do this and it works</p>
  
  <pre><code> MY_TIME=$SECONDS 
   echo $MY_TIME
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>but when I write this on my makefile it does not work</p>
  
  <p>how can I use these two lines in my make file?</p>
  
  <p>this is what I'm doing </p>
  
  <pre><code>.PHONY: myProg
  myProg:
        MY_TIME=$SECONDS 
        echo $MY_TIME
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>After Etan Reisner' answer</p>
  
  <p>This is what I have now </p>
  
  <pre><code>.PHONY: myProg
   myProg:
          MY_TIME= date; echo $MY_TIME
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>but the result of my echo is an empty line, it does not look like it is storing the date</p>