GNU `make'

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GNU `make'

Overview: Overview of make.
Introduction: An introduction to make.
Makefiles: Makefiles tell make what to do.
Rules: Rules describe when a file must be remade.
Commands: Commands say how to remake a file.
Using Variables: You can use variables to avoid repetition.
Conditionals: Use or ignore parts of the makefile based on the values of variables.
Functions: Many powerful ways to manipulate text.
Invoking make: How to invoke make on the command line.
Implicit Rules: Use implicit rules to treat many files alike, based on their file names.
Archives: How make can update library archives.
Features: Features GNU make has over other makes.
Missing: What GNU make lacks from other makes.
Makefile Conventions: Conventions for writing makefiles for GNU programs.
Quick Reference: A quick reference for experienced users.
Error Messages: A list of common errors generated by make.
Complex Makefile: A real example of a straightforward, but nontrivial, makefile.
GNU Free Documentation License: License for copying this manual
Concept Index: Index of Concepts
Name Index: Index of Functions, Variables, & Directives

--- The Detailed Node Listing ---

Overview of make

An Introduction to Makefiles

Writing Makefiles

Makefile Contents: What makefiles contain.
Makefile Names: How to name your makefile.
Include: How one makefile can use another makefile.
MAKEFILES Variable: The environment can specify extra makefiles.
MAKEFILE_LIST Variable: Discover which makefiles have been read.
Special Variables: Other special variables.
Remaking Makefiles: How makefiles get remade.
Overriding Makefiles: How to override part of one makefile with another makefile.
Reading Makefiles: How makefiles are parsed.

Writing Rules

Rule Example: An example explained.
Rule Syntax: General syntax explained.
Prerequisite Types: There are two types of prerequisites.
Wildcards: Using wildcard characters such as `*'.
Directory Search: Searching other directories for source files.
Phony Targets: Using a target that is not a real file's name.
Force Targets: You can use a target without commands or prerequisites to mark other targets as phony.
Empty Targets: When only the date matters and the files are empty.
Special Targets: Targets with special built-in meanings.
Multiple Targets: When to make use of several targets in a rule.
Multiple Rules: How to use several rules with the same target.
Static Pattern: Static pattern rules apply to multiple targets and can vary the prerequisites according to the target name.
Double-Colon: How to use a special kind of rule to allow several independent rules for one target.
Automatic Prerequisites: How to automatically generate rules giving prerequisites from source files themselves.

Using Wildcard Characters in File Names

Searching Directories for Prerequisites

General Search: Specifying a search path that applies to every prerequisite.
Selective Search: Specifying a search path for a specified class of names.
Search Algorithm: When and how search paths are applied.
Commands/Search: How to write shell commands that work together with search paths.
Implicit/Search: How search paths affect implicit rules.
Libraries/Search: Directory search for link libraries.

Static Pattern Rules

Writing the Commands in Rules

Recursive Use of make

How to Use Variables

Reference: How to use the value of a variable.
Flavors: Variables come in two flavors.
Advanced: Advanced features for referencing a variable.
Values: All the ways variables get their values.
Setting: How to set a variable in the makefile.
Appending: How to append more text to the old value of a variable.
Override Directive: How to set a variable in the makefile even if the user has set it with a command argument.
Defining: An alternate way to set a variable to a verbatim string.
Environment: Variable values can come from the environment.
Target-specific: Variable values can be defined on a per-target basis.
Pattern-specific: Target-specific variable values can be applied to a group of targets that match a pattern.

Advanced Features for Reference to Variables

Conditional Parts of Makefiles

Functions for Transforming Text

How to Run make

Makefile Arguments: How to specify which makefile to use.
Goals: How to use goal arguments to specify which parts of the makefile to use.
Instead of Execution: How to use mode flags to specify what kind of thing to do with the commands in the makefile other than simply execute them.
Avoiding Compilation: How to avoid recompiling certain files.
Overriding: How to override a variable to specify an alternate compiler and other things.
Testing: How to proceed past some errors, to test compilation.
Options Summary: Summary of Options

Using Implicit Rules

Using Implicit: How to use an existing implicit rule to get the commands for updating a file.
Catalogue of Rules: A list of built-in implicit rules.
Implicit Variables: How to change what predefined rules do.
Chained Rules: How to use a chain of implicit rules.
Pattern Rules: How to define new implicit rules.
Last Resort: How to defining commands for rules which cannot find any.
Suffix Rules: The old-fashioned style of implicit rule.
Implicit Rule Search: The precise algorithm for applying implicit rules.

Defining and Redefining Pattern Rules

Pattern Intro: An introduction to pattern rules.
Pattern Examples: Examples of pattern rules.
Automatic: How to use automatic variables in the commands of implicit rules.
Pattern Match: How patterns match.
Match-Anything Rules: Precautions you should take prior to defining rules that can match any target file whatever.
Canceling Rules: How to override or cancel built-in rules.

Using make to Update Archive Files

Implicit Rule for Archive Member Targets

Makefile Conventions

Copying This Manual