[makefile] How to print out a variable in makefile

If you don't want to modify the Makefile itself, you can use --eval to add a new target, and then execute the new target, e.g.

make --eval='print-tests: @echo TESTS $(TESTS) ' print-tests

You can insert the required TAB character in the command line using CTRL-V, TAB

example Makefile from above:

all: do-something

TESTS=
TESTS+='a'
TESTS+='b'
TESTS+='c'

do-something:
        @echo "doing something"
        @echo "running tests $(TESTS)"
        @exit 1