The Makefile example in the Go styleguide and in the HTTP server conventions
set VERSION from `git describe --tags --always` alone. Where that prints
nothing (outside a git checkout, or where git is missing or refuses the
checkout), the binary was stamped with an empty version and nothing said so.
Both now read
`VERSION ?= $(or $(shell git describe --tags --always 2>/dev/null),dev)`, and
the comment above each names that condition. A `VERSION` from the environment
or the make command line still takes precedence.
Model: opus-5-5
sneak