diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index ac8fa6b925..6e1398a6e7 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -127,10 +127,9 @@ TCC.sqlite += -D_HAVE_SQLITE_CONFIG_H -DBUILD_sqlite
 CFLAGS_JIMSH = @CFLAGS_JIMSH@
 JIMSH = $(TOP)/jimsh$(TEXE)
 
-# BTCLSH is the tclsh-compatible app used for running various code
-# generators and other in-tree tools, as opposed to the TCL-based
-# tests, which must be built and run using the canonical TCL
-# distribution.
+#
+# $(BTCLSH) is documented in main.mk.
+#
 BTCLSH = @BTCLSH@
 $(BTCLSH):
 
@@ -151,11 +150,14 @@ TCC += $(OPT_FEATURE_FLAGS)
 #XX# serve different purposes.
 TCC += $(OPTS)
 
-# Version numbers and release number for the SQLite being compiled.
 #
-# VERSION = @VERSION@
+# Release (X.Y.Z) and version (X.Y) numbers for the SQLite being
+# compiled.
+#
 RELEASE = @RELEASE@
+# VERSION = @VERSION@ # we don't currently use this anywhere
 
+#
 # Filename extensions for binaries and libraries
 #
 BEXE = @BUILD_EXEEXT@
@@ -165,21 +167,25 @@ TDLL = @TARGET_DLLEXT@
 BLIB = @BUILD_LIBEXT@
 TLIB = @TARGET_LIBEXT@
 
-# The following variable is "1" if the configure script was able to locate
-# the tclConfig.sh file.  It is an empty string otherwise.  When this
-# variable is "1", the TCL extension library (libtclsqlite3.so) is built
-# and installed.
+#
+# $(HAVE_TCL) is 1 if the configure script was able to locate the
+# tclConfig.sh file, else it is 0.  When this variable is 1, the TCL
+# extension library (libtclsqlite3.so) and related testing apps are
+# built.
 #
 HAVE_TCL = @HAVE_TCL@
 
-# This is the command to use for tclsh - normally just "tclsh", but we may
-# know the specific version we want to use. This must point to the canonical
-# TCL interpreter, not JimTCL.
+#
+# $(TCLSH_CMD) is the command to use for tclsh - normally just
+# "tclsh", but we may know the specific version we want to use. This
+# must point to a canonical TCL interpreter, not JimTCL.
 #
 TCLSH_CMD = @TCLSH_CMD@
 TCL_CONFIG_SH = @TCL_CONFIG_SH@
 
+#
 # TCL config info from tclConfig.sh
+#
 TCL_INCLUDE_SPEC = @TCL_INCLUDE_SPEC@
 TCL_LIB_SPEC = @TCL_LIB_SPEC@
 TCL_STUB_LIB_SPEC = @TCL_STUB_LIB_SPEC@
@@ -188,11 +194,13 @@ TCL_VERSION = @TCL_VERSION@
 TCLLIB_RPATH = @TCLLIB_RPATH@
 TCLLIBDIR = @TCLLIBDIR@
 
+#
 # Additional options when running tests using testrunner.tcl
 # This is usually either blank, or else --status
 #
 TSTRNNR_OPTS = @TSTRNNR_OPTS@
 
+#
 # Where do we want to install the tcl plugin
 #
 TCLLIBDIR = @TCLLIBDIR@
@@ -217,10 +225,6 @@ TCOMPILE_EXTRAS += $(CFLAGS_GCOV$(USE_GCOV))
 TLINK_EXTRAS += $(LDFLAGS_GCOV$(USE_GCOV))
 
 #
-# You should not have to change anything below this line
-################################################################################
-#
-
 # Vars with the AS_ prefix are specifically related to AutoSetup.
 #
 # AS_AUTO_DEF is the main configure script.
diff --git a/Makefile.linux-generic b/Makefile.linux-generic
index e019a3dc7c..712a7392da 100644
--- a/Makefile.linux-generic
+++ b/Makefile.linux-generic
@@ -10,15 +10,36 @@
 # alternative.  Create a copy of this file, edit the parameters
 # below and type "make".
 #
-#### The toplevel directory of the source tree.  This is the directory
-#    that contains this "Makefile.in" and the "configure.in" script.
+# Maintenance note: because this is the template for Linux systems, it
+# is assumed that the platform has GNU make and this file takes
+# advantage of that.
+#
+####
+#
+# $(TOP) = The toplevel directory of the source tree.  This is the
+#    directory that contains this "Makefile.in" and "auto.def".
 #
 TOP ?= .
 
+#
+# $(CFLAGS) will be used when compiling the library and most
+# utilities.  Generally speaking, it must contain -fPIC on Linux
+# systems.
+#
 CFLAGS += -fPIC
 
+#
+# $(SHELL_OPT) contains CFLAGS for building the sqlite3 CLI shell.
+# See main.mk for other potentially-relevant vars which may need
+# tweaking, like $(LDFLAGS_READLINE).
+#
 SHELL_OPT ?= -DHAVE_READLINE=1
 
+#
+# Library's version number.
+#
+RELEASE ?= $(shell cat $(TOP)/VERSION 2>/dev/null)
+
 # You should not have to change anything below this line
 ###############################################################################
 include $(TOP)/main.mk
diff --git a/main.mk b/main.mk
index e53f259028..1acc62ce78 100644
--- a/main.mk
+++ b/main.mk
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ###############################################################################
 # This is the main makefile for sqlite. It expects to be included from
 # a higher-level makefile which configures any dynamic state needed by
-# this one.
+# this one (as documented below).
 #
 # Maintenance reminders:
 #
@@ -11,30 +11,31 @@
 #  POSIX Make compatible. "bmake" (BSD make) is available on most
 #  Linux systems, so compatibility is relatively easy to test.
 #
-#XX# Lines starting with #XX# are TODOs for the port to autosetup
-#
 # The variables listed below must be defined before this script is
 # invoked. This file will use defaults, very possibly invalid, for any
 # which are not defined.
 ########################################################################
 #
-# $(RELEASE) =
-#
-# The MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH version number of this build.
-RELEASE ?= MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
-#
 # $(TOP) =
 #
 # The toplevel directory of the source tree.  For canonical builds
 # this is the directory that contains this "Makefile.in" and the
 # "configure.in" script. For out-of-tree builds, this will differ
 # from $(PWD).
+#
 TOP ?= $(PWD)
 #
+# $(RELEASE) =
+#
+# The MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH version number of this build.
+#
+RELEASE ?=
+#
 # $(BCC) =
 #
 # C Compiler and options for use in building executables that will run
 # on the platform that is doing the build.
+#
 BCC ?= $(CC)
 #
 # $(TCC) =
@@ -43,12 +44,12 @@ BCC ?= $(CC)
 # on the target platform.  This is usually the same as BCC, unless you
 # are cross-compiling. Note that it should only contain flags which
 # are used by _all_ build targets.  Flags needed only by specific
-# targets are defined elsewhere.
+# targets are defined elsewhere and applied on a per-target basis.
+#
 TCC ?= $(BCC)
 #
 # $(AR) =
-# Tool used to build a static library from object files, including
-# its arguments needed for doing so.
+# Tool used to build a static library from object files.
 #
 AR      ?= ar
 #
@@ -56,11 +57,13 @@ AR      ?= ar
 #
 # File extension for executables on the build platform. ".exe" for
 # Windows and "" everywhere else.
+#
 BEXE ?=
 #
 # $(BDLL) and $(BLIB) =
 #
 # The DLL resp. static library counterparts of $(BEXE).
+#
 BDLL ?= .so
 BLIB ?= .lib
 #
@@ -68,17 +71,20 @@ BLIB ?= .lib
 #
 # File extension for executables on the target platform. ".exe" for
 # Windows and "" everywhere else.
+#
 TEXE ?=
 #
 # $(TDLL) and $(TLIB) =
 #
 # The DLL resp. static library counterparts of $(TEXE).
+#
 TDLL ?= .so
 TLIB ?= .lib
 #
 # $(TCLSH_CMD) =
 #
 # The canonical tclsh.
+#
 TCLSH_CMD ?= tclsh
 #
 # JimTCL is part of the autosetup suite and is suitable for all
@@ -89,6 +95,9 @@ TCLSH_CMD ?= tclsh
 # to build it with another option enabled for use with the various
 # code generators.
 #
+# JIMSH requires a leading path component, even if it's ./, so that it
+# can be used as a shell command.
+#
 CFLAGS_JIMSH ?= -DHAVE_REALPATH
 JIMSH ?= ./jimsh$(TEXE)
 #
@@ -114,7 +123,7 @@ BTCLSH ?= $(JIMSH)
 LDFLAGS_ZLIB ?= -lz
 LDFLAGS_MATH ?= -lm
 LDFLAGS_RPATH ?= -Wl,-rpath -Wl,$(prefix)/lib
-LDFLAGS_READLINE ?= -lreadline
+LDFLAGS_READLINE ?= -lreadline # these vary wildly across platforms
 CFLAGS_READLINE ?=
 LDFLAGS_PTHREAD ?= -lpthread
 LDFLAGS_DLOPEN ?= -ldl
@@ -191,8 +200,10 @@ TCL_STUB_LIB_SPEC ?=
 TCL_EXEC_PREFIX ?=
 TCL_VERSION ?=
 TCLLIBDIR ?=
+#
 # $(TCLLIB_RPATH) is the -rpath flag for libtclsqlite3, not
 # libsqlite3, and will usually differ from $(LDFLAGS_RPATH).
+#
 TCLLIB_RPATH ?=
 #
 # $(HAVE_WASI_SDK) =
@@ -203,6 +214,19 @@ TCLLIB_RPATH ?=
 #
 HAVE_WASI_SDK ?= 0
 #
+# $(CFLAGS_libsqlite3) must contain any CFLAGS which are relevant for
+# compiling the library's own sources, including (sometimes) when
+# compiling sqlite3.c directly in to another app.
+#
+CFLAGS_libsqlite3 ?= $(CFLAGS)
+#
+# $(TCC.sqlite) is $(TCC) plus any flags which are desired for the
+# library as a whole, but not necessarily needed for every binary. It
+# will normally get initially populated with flags by the
+# configure-generated makefile.
+#
+TCC.sqlite ?= $(TCC)
+#
 # ... and many, many more. Sane defaults are selected where possible.
 #
 # With the above-described defined, the rest of this make script will
@@ -211,7 +235,10 @@ HAVE_WASI_SDK ?= 0
 all:	sqlite3.h sqlite3.c
 
 ########################################################################
-# Modifying what follows should not be necessary for most builds.
+########################################################################
+# Modifying anything after this point should not be necessary for most
+# builds.
+########################################################################
 ########################################################################
 
 #
@@ -226,13 +253,6 @@ INSTALL.noexec = $(INSTALL) -m 0644
 #
 TCOMPILE = $(TCC) $(TCOMPILE_EXTRAS)
 
-#
-# $(TCC.sqlite) is $(TCC) plus any flags which are desired for the library
-# as a whole, but not necessarily needed for every binary. It will
-# normally get initially populated by the configure-generated
-# makefile, so should not be overwritten here.
-#
-TCC.sqlite ?= $(TCC)
 #
 # $(CFLAGS_intree_includes) = -I... flags relevant specifically to
 # this tree, including any subdirectories commonly needed for building
@@ -253,7 +273,7 @@ TCC.extension = $(TCOMPILE) -I. -I$(TOP)/src -DSQLITE_CORE
 # $(TLINK) = compiler invocation for when the target will be an
 # executable.
 #
-# $(TLINK_EXTRAS) = config-specific flags for $(TLINK)
+# $(TLINK_EXTRAS) = optional config-specific flags for $(TLINK)
 #
 TLINK = $(TCC.sqlite) $(TLINK_EXTRAS)
 #
@@ -261,19 +281,6 @@ TLINK = $(TCC.sqlite) $(TLINK_EXTRAS)
 #
 TLINK.shared = $(TLINK) $(LDFLAGS_SHOBJ)
 
-#
-# $(CFLAGS_libsqlite3) must contain any CFLAGS which are relevant for
-# compiling the library's own sources, including (sometimes) when
-# compiling sqlite3.c directly in to another app.  Most notably, it
-# should always contain -DSQLITE_TEMP_STORE=N for the sake of
-# historical build expecations.
-#
-# SQLITE_TEMP_STORE is 0 to force temporary tables to be in a file, 1
-# to default to file, 2 to default to memory, and 3 to force temporary
-# tables to always be in memory.
-#
-CFLAGS_libsqlite3 ?= $(CFLAGS) -DSQLITE_TEMP_STORE=1
-
 #
 # LDFLAGS_libsqlite3 should be used with any target which either
 # results in building libsqlite3.so, compiles sqlite3.c directly, or
@@ -348,6 +355,7 @@ $(MAKE_SANITY_CHECK): $(MAKEFILE_LIST)
 	@if [ x = "x$(TOP)" ]; then echo "Missing TOP var" 1>&2; exit 1; fi
 	@if [ ! -d "$(TOP)" ]; then echo "$(TOP) is not a directory" 1>&2; exit 1; fi
 	@if [ ! -f "$(TOP)/auto.def" ]; then echo "$(TOP) does not appear to be the top-most source dir" 1>&2; exit 1; fi
+	@if [ x = "x$(RELEASE)" ] then; then echo "RELEASE must be set to the library's X.Y.Z-format version number" 1>&2; exit 1; fi
 	@if [ x = "x$(BCC)" ]; then echo "Missing BCC var" 1>&2; exit 1; fi
 	@if [ x = "x$(TCC)" ]; then echo "Missing TCC var" 1>&2; exit 1; fi
 	@if [ x = "x$(RELEASE)" ]; then echo "Missing RELEASE var" 1>&2; exit 1; fi
diff --git a/manifest b/manifest
index ed50768a13..40ee1c6bdf 100644
--- a/manifest
+++ b/manifest
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-C Get\sMakefile.linux-generic\s(formerly\sMakefile.linux-gcc)\sworking\swith\sjimsh\sin\sout-of-tree\sbuilds.\sPass\son\s-DHAVE_READLINE=1\sto\sthe\ssqlite3\sshell\sif\sconfigure\sdetects\sit.
-D 2024-10-24T03:50:40.281
+C Generic\sbuild\scleanups.
+D 2024-10-24T04:34:39.658
 F .fossil-settings/empty-dirs dbb81e8fc0401ac46a1491ab34a7f2c7c0452f2f06b54ebb845d024ca8283ef1
 F .fossil-settings/ignore-glob 35175cdfcf539b2318cb04a9901442804be81cd677d8b889fcc9149c21f239ea
 F LICENSE.md df5091916dbb40e6e9686186587125e1b2ff51f022cc334e886c19a0e9982724
-F Makefile.in 57258abc6688381871956cd35dcd3017f56b7161487845597971597ff0b36d6f
-F Makefile.linux-generic c44f7d97a1289b218a41299e4e9d120599ae86d1c61dfff49f1040a111fdfb08 w Makefile.linux-gcc
+F Makefile.in e5cd4b271a3ffbe4fd4c13ca8852d82352a4db9e9003b412d81437d0d4309f23
+F Makefile.linux-generic e79bf7b51f2cc7513f0f673070ad528f3311ba178599f257cb4d04bbd968f497
 F Makefile.msc 58b69eda1faad5d475092b8aeffab9156ee4901a82db089b166607f2ec907ee4
 F README.md c3c0f19532ce28f6297a71870f3c7b424729f0e6d9ab889616d3587dd2332159
 F VERSION 0db40f92c04378404eb45bff93e9e42c148c7e54fd3da99469ed21e22411f5a6
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ F ext/wasm/wasmfs.make bc8bb227f35d5bd3863a7bd2233437c37472a0d81585979f058f9b9b5
 F install-sh 9d4de14ab9fb0facae2f48780b874848cbf2f895 x
 F ltmain.sh 3ff0879076df340d2e23ae905484d8c15d5fdea8
 F magic.txt 5ade0bc977aa135e79e3faaea894d5671b26107cc91e70783aa7dc83f22f3ba0
-F main.mk bed344fb2a0fc6f096d556db166b146582f814cdf3cb85042e7efd458acd1ec4
+F main.mk 803569231944f6221794d4df9bd2623547f093570b8f0538767eca1cfa4a6566
 F mptest/config01.test 3c6adcbc50b991866855f1977ff172eb6d901271
 F mptest/config02.test 4415dfe36c48785f751e16e32c20b077c28ae504
 F mptest/crash01.test 61e61469e257df0850df4293d7d4d6c2af301421
@@ -2236,8 +2236,8 @@ F vsixtest/vsixtest.tcl 6195aba1f12a5e10efc2b8c0009532167be5e301abe5b31385638080
 F vsixtest/vsixtest.vcxproj.data 2ed517e100c66dc455b492e1a33350c1b20fbcdc
 F vsixtest/vsixtest.vcxproj.filters 37e51ffedcdb064aad6ff33b6148725226cd608e
 F vsixtest/vsixtest_TemporaryKey.pfx e5b1b036facdb453873e7084e1cae9102ccc67a0
-P 85b2c73ccb85d7f5830a6fac692b380c5c79e7a54ee3fc6fc37343fa23816ef8
-R 294cb6b174d7e2114f1ad6f2164ffdf3
+P a555ff6dbc2ded5a9c65c8ef483f3197298848a580dda25ba0b721ba13167ad4
+R 3e8eef5052286b2a46e0f9665a9d13cf
 U stephan
-Z 2ba08cb783ad323f3f33b67e1c19037f
+Z 75f0c66b04971012069339b49ca2dbc2
 # Remove this line to create a well-formed Fossil manifest.
diff --git a/manifest.uuid b/manifest.uuid
index 147cd3bf76..2d335ed780 100644
--- a/manifest.uuid
+++ b/manifest.uuid
@@ -1 +1 @@
-a555ff6dbc2ded5a9c65c8ef483f3197298848a580dda25ba0b721ba13167ad4
+be7b32a77f58ae3eb15cb828385035e63236b7e6c0669f90f2321f0509f0de1b