GNU Make

A Program for Directing Recompilation

Edition 0.48, for make Version 3.73 Beta.

April 1995

• Overview of make
  • How to Read This Manual
  • Problems and Bugs
• An Introduction to Makefiles
  • What a Rule Looks Like
  • A Simple Makefile
  • How make Processes a Makefile
  • Variables Make Makefiles Simpler
  • Letting make Deduce the Commands
  • Another Style of Makefile
  • Rules for Cleaning the Directory
• Writing Makefiles
  • What Makefiles Contain
  • What Name to Give Your Makefile
  • Including Other Makefiles
  • The Variable MAKEFILES
  • How Makefiles Are Remade
  • Overriding Part of Another Makefile
• Writing Rules
  • Rule Syntax
  • Using Wildcard Characters in File Names
    • Wildcard Examples
    • Pitfalls of Using Wildcards
    • The Function wildcard
  • Searching Directories for Dependencies
    • VPATH: Search Path for All Dependencies
    • The vpath Directive
    • Writing Shell Commands with Directory Search
    • Directory Search and Implicit Rules
    • Directory Search for Link Libraries
  • Phony Targets
  • Rules without Commands or Dependencies
  • Empty Target Files to Record Events
  • Special Built-in Target Names
  • Multiple Targets in a Rule
  • Multiple Rules for One Target
  • Static Pattern Rules
    • Syntax of Static Pattern Rules
    • Static Pattern Rules versus Implicit Rules
  • Double-Colon Rules
  • Generating Dependencies Automatically
• Writing the Commands in Rules
  • Command Echoing
  • Command Execution
  • Parallel Execution
  • Errors in Commands
  • Interrupting or Killing make
  • Recursive Use of make
    • How the MAKE Variable Works
    • Communicating Variables to a Sub-make
    • Communicating Options to a Sub-make
    • The `--print-directory' Option
  • Defining Canned Command Sequences
  • Using Empty Commands
• How to Use Variables
  • Basics of Variable References
  • The Two Flavors of Variables
  • Advanced Features for Reference to Variables
    • Substitution References
    • Computed Variable Names
  • How Variables Get Their Values
  • Setting Variables
  • Appending More Text to Variables
  • The override Directive
  • Defining Variables Verbatim
  • Variables from the Environment
• Conditional Parts of Makefiles
  • Example of a Conditional
  • Syntax of Conditionals
  • Conditionals that Test Flags
• Functions for Transforming Text
  • Function Call Syntax
  • Functions for String Substitution and Analysis
  • Functions for File Names
  • The foreach Function
  • The origin Function
  • The shell Function
• How to Run make
  • Arguments to Specify the Makefile
  • Arguments to Specify the Goals
  • Instead of Executing the Commands
  • Avoiding Recompilation of Some Files
  • Overriding Variables
  • Testing the Compilation of a Program
  • Summary of Options
• Using Implicit Rules
  • Using Implicit Rules
  • Catalogue of Implicit Rules
  • Variables Used by Implicit Rules
  • Chains of Implicit Rules
  • Defining and Redefining Pattern Rules
    • Introduction to Pattern Rules
    • Pattern Rule Examples
    • Automatic Variables
    • How Patterns Match
    • Match-Anything Pattern Rules
    • Canceling Implicit Rules
  • Defining Last-Resort Default Rules
  • Old-Fashioned Suffix Rules
  • Implicit Rule Search Algorithm
• Using make to Update Archive Files
  • Archive Members as Targets
  • Implicit Rule for Archive Member Targets
    • Updating Archive Symbol Directories
  • Dangers When Using Archives
  • Suffix Rules for Archive Files
• Features of GNU make
• Incompatibilities and Missing Features
• Makefile Conventions
  • General Conventions for Makefiles
  • Utilities in Makefiles
  • Standard Targets for Users
  • Variables for Specifying Commands
  • Variables for Installation Directories
• Quick Reference
• Complex Makefile Example
• Index of Concepts
• Index of Functions, Variables, & Directives