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GNU make

Table of Contents

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 The Variable MAKEFILE_LIST
3.6 Other Special Variables
3.7 How Makefiles Are Remade
3.8 Overriding Part of Another Makefile
3.9 How make Reads a Makefile

4. Writing Rules

4.1 Rule Example
4.2 Rule Syntax
4.3 Types of Prerequisites
4.4 Using Wildcard Characters in File Names

4.4.1 Wildcard Examples
4.4.2 Pitfalls of Using Wildcards
4.4.3 The Function wildcard

4.5 Searching Directories for Prerequisites

4.5.1 VPATH: Search Path for All Prerequisites
4.5.2 The vpath Directive
4.5.3 How Directory Searches are Performed
4.5.4 Writing Shell Commands with Directory Search
4.5.5 Directory Search and Implicit Rules
4.5.6 Directory Search for Link Libraries

4.6 Phony Targets
4.7 Rules without Commands or Prerequisites
4.8 Empty Target Files to Record Events
4.9 Special Built-in Target Names
4.10 Multiple Targets in a Rule
4.11 Multiple Rules for One Target
4.12 Static Pattern Rules

4.12.1 Syntax of Static Pattern Rules
4.12.2 Static Pattern Rules versus Implicit Rules

4.13 Double-Colon Rules
4.14 Generating Prerequisites 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
6.10 Target-specific Variable Values
6.11 Pattern-specific Variable Values

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 if Function
8.6 The call Function
8.7 The value Function
8.8 The eval Function
8.9 The origin Function
8.10 The shell Function
8.11 Functions That Control Make

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. Errors Generated by Make
C. Complex Makefile Example
D. GNU Free Documentation License

D.1 ADDENDUM: How to use this License for your documents

Index of Concepts
Index of Functions, Variables, & Directives