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An Introduction to Makefiles
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   You need a file called a "makefile" to tell `make' what to do.  Most
often, the makefile tells `make' how to compile and link a program.

   In this chapter, we will discuss a simple makefile that describes
how to compile and link a text editor which consists of eight C source
files and three header files.  The makefile can also tell `make' how to
run miscellaneous commands when explicitly asked (for example, to remove
certain files as a clean-up operation).  To see a more complex example
of a makefile, see Note: Complex Makefile.

   When `make' recompiles the editor, each changed C source file must
be recompiled.  If a header file has changed, each C source file that
includes the header file must be recompiled to be safe.  Each
compilation produces an object file corresponding to the source file.
Finally, if any source file has been recompiled, all the object files,
whether newly made or saved from previous compilations, must be linked
together to produce the new executable editor.

Rule Introduction

What a rule looks like.

Simple Makefile

A Simple Makefile

How Make Works

How `make' Processes This Makefile

Variables Simplify

Variables Make Makefiles Simpler

make Deduces

Letting `make' Deduce the Commands

Combine By Prerequisite

Another Style of Makefile

Cleanup

Rules for Cleaning the Directory