GNU Make

A Program for Directing Recompilation

Edition 0.51, for make Version 3.76 Beta.

Aug 1997

• 1. Overview of make
  • 1.1 How to Read This Manual
  • 1.2 Problems and Bugs
• 2. An Introduction to Makefiles
  • 2.1 What a Rule Looks Like
  • 2.2 A Simple Makefile
  • 2.3 How make Processes a Makefile
  • 2.4 Variables Make Makefiles Simpler
  • 2.5 Letting make Deduce the Commands
  • 2.6 Another Style of Makefile
  • 2.7 Rules for Cleaning the Directory
• 3. Writing Makefiles
  • 3.1 What Makefiles Contain
  • 3.2 What Name to Give Your Makefile
  • 3.3 Including Other Makefiles
  • 3.4 The Variable MAKEFILES
  • 3.5 How Makefiles Are Remade
  • 3.6 Overriding Part of Another Makefile
• 4. Writing Rules
  • 4.1 Rule Syntax
  • 4.2 Using Wildcard Characters in File Names
    • 4.2.1 Wildcard Examples
    • 4.2.2 Pitfalls of Using Wildcards
    • 4.2.3 The Function wildcard
  • 4.3 Searching Directories for Dependencies
    • 4.3.1 VPATH: Search Path for All Dependencies
    • 4.3.2 The vpath Directive
    • 4.3.3 How Directory Searches are Performed
    • 4.3.4 Writing Shell Commands with Directory Search
    • 4.3.5 Directory Search and Implicit Rules
    • 4.3.6 Directory Search for Link Libraries
  • 4.4 Phony Targets
  • 4.5 Rules without Commands or Dependencies
  • 4.6 Empty Target Files to Record Events
  • 4.7 Special Built-in Target Names
  • 4.8 Multiple Targets in a Rule
  • 4.9 Multiple Rules for One Target
  • 4.10 Static Pattern Rules
    • 4.10.1 Syntax of Static Pattern Rules
    • 4.10.2 Static Pattern Rules versus Implicit Rules
  • 4.11 Double-Colon Rules
  • 4.12 Generating Dependencies Automatically
• 5. Writing the Commands in Rules
  • 5.1 Command Echoing
  • 5.2 Command Execution
  • 5.3 Parallel Execution
  • 5.4 Errors in Commands
  • 5.5 Interrupting or Killing make
  • 5.6 Recursive Use of make
    • 5.6.1 How the MAKE Variable Works
    • 5.6.2 Communicating Variables to a Sub-make
    • 5.6.3 Communicating Options to a Sub-make
    • 5.6.4 The `--print-directory' Option
  • 5.7 Defining Canned Command Sequences
  • 5.8 Using Empty Commands
• 6. How to Use Variables
  • 6.1 Basics of Variable References
  • 6.2 The Two Flavors of Variables
  • 6.3 Advanced Features for Reference to Variables
    • 6.3.1 Substitution References
    • 6.3.2 Computed Variable Names
  • 6.4 How Variables Get Their Values
  • 6.5 Setting Variables
  • 6.6 Appending More Text to Variables
  • 6.7 The override Directive
  • 6.8 Defining Variables Verbatim
  • 6.9 Variables from the Environment
• 7. Conditional Parts of Makefiles
  • 7.1 Example of a Conditional
  • 7.2 Syntax of Conditionals
  • 7.3 Conditionals that Test Flags
• 8. Functions for Transforming Text
  • 8.1 Function Call Syntax
  • 8.2 Functions for String Substitution and Analysis
  • 8.3 Functions for File Names
  • 8.4 The foreach Function
  • 8.5 The origin Function
  • 8.6 The shell Function
• 9. How to Run make
  • 9.1 Arguments to Specify the Makefile
  • 9.2 Arguments to Specify the Goals
  • 9.3 Instead of Executing the Commands
  • 9.4 Avoiding Recompilation of Some Files
  • 9.5 Overriding Variables
  • 9.6 Testing the Compilation of a Program
  • 9.7 Summary of Options
• 10. Using Implicit Rules
  • 10.1 Using Implicit Rules
  • 10.2 Catalogue of Implicit Rules
  • 10.3 Variables Used by Implicit Rules
  • 10.4 Chains of Implicit Rules
  • 10.5 Defining and Redefining Pattern Rules
    • 10.5.1 Introduction to Pattern Rules
    • 10.5.2 Pattern Rule Examples
    • 10.5.3 Automatic Variables
    • 10.5.4 How Patterns Match
    • 10.5.5 Match-Anything Pattern Rules
    • 10.5.6 Canceling Implicit Rules
  • 10.6 Defining Last-Resort Default Rules
  • 10.7 Old-Fashioned Suffix Rules
  • 10.8 Implicit Rule Search Algorithm
• 11. Using make to Update Archive Files
  • 11.1 Archive Members as Targets
  • 11.2 Implicit Rule for Archive Member Targets
    • 11.2.1 Updating Archive Symbol Directories
  • 11.3 Dangers When Using Archives
  • 11.4 Suffix Rules for Archive Files
• 12. Features of GNU make
• 13. Incompatibilities and Missing Features
• 14. Makefile Conventions
  • 14.1 General Conventions for Makefiles
  • 14.2 Utilities in Makefiles
  • 14.3 Variables for Specifying Commands
  • 14.4 Variables for Installation Directories
  • 14.5 Standard Targets for Users
  • 14.6 Install Command Categories
• A. Quick Reference
• B. Complex Makefile Example
• Index of Concepts
• Index of Functions, Variables, & Directives

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