Makefiles

Understand the file that tells `make` how to build a project and run other project tasks.

A makefile is a text file that tells make what work it can perform. It most often describes how to compile and link a program, but it can also define other project tasks.

A simple makefile organizes that information as rules; makefiles may also contain variable definitions, directives, and comments. In this example, make hello uses the rule to build hello from hello.c.

A makefile with one build rule

1hello: hello.c2 cc -o hello hello.c

A makefile is the generic kind of input file. Makefile is one conventional filename for it; makefile discovery determines which file GNU Make reads.

See it in context