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when multiple pattern rules match a target
$ touch make_specific.cpp

$ cat Makefile.general_first
%.o: %.cpp
@echo using general rule
$(CXX) -c $< -o $@

%_specific.o: %_specific.cpp
@echo using specific rule
$(CXX) -c $< -o $@

$ make -B -f Makefile.general_first make_specific.o
using general rule
g++44 -c make_specific.cpp -o make_specific.o

Version 3.82
...
* WARNING: Backward-incompatibility!
  The pattern-specific variables and pattern rules are now applied in the
  shortest stem first order instead of the definition order (variables
  and rules with the same stem length are still applied in the definition
  order). This produces the usually-desired behavior where more specific
  patterns are preferred. To detect this feature search for 'shortest-stem'
  in the .FEATURES special variable.