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(make.info)Simple Makefile

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A Simple Makefile
=================

   Here is a straightforward makefile that describes the way an
executable file called `edit' depends on eight object files which, in
turn, depend on eight C source and three header files.

   In this example, all the C files include `defs.h', but only those
defining editing commands include `command.h', and only low level files
that change the editor buffer include `buffer.h'.

     edit : main.o kbd.o command.o display.o \
            insert.o search.o files.o utils.o
             cc -o edit main.o kbd.o command.o display.o \
                        insert.o search.o files.o utils.o
     
     main.o : main.c defs.h
             cc -c main.c
     kbd.o : kbd.c defs.h command.h
             cc -c kbd.c
     command.o : command.c defs.h command.h
             cc -c command.c
     display.o : display.c defs.h buffer.h
             cc -c display.c
     insert.o : insert.c defs.h buffer.h
             cc -c insert.c
     search.o : search.c defs.h buffer.h
             cc -c search.c
     files.o : files.c defs.h buffer.h command.h
             cc -c files.c
     utils.o : utils.c defs.h
             cc -c utils.c
     clean :
             rm edit main.o kbd.o command.o display.o \
                insert.o search.o files.o utils.o

We split each long line into two lines using backslash-newline; this is
like using one long line, but is easier to read.

   To use this makefile to create the executable file called `edit',
type:

     make

   To use this makefile to delete the executable file and all the object
files from the directory, type:

     make clean

   In the example makefile, the targets include the executable file
`edit', and the object files `main.o' and `kbd.o'.  The prerequisites
are files such as `main.c' and `defs.h'.  In fact, each `.o' file is
both a target and a prerequisite.  Commands include `cc -c main.c' and
`cc -c kbd.c'.

   When a target is a file, it needs to be recompiled or relinked if any
of its prerequisites change.  In addition, any prerequisites that are
themselves automatically generated should be updated first.  In this
example, `edit' depends on each of the eight object files; the object
file `main.o' depends on the source file `main.c' and on the header
file `defs.h'.

   A shell command follows each line that contains a target and
prerequisites.  These shell commands say how to update the target file.
A tab character must come at the beginning of every command line to
distinguish commands lines from other lines in the makefile.  (Bear in
mind that `make' does not know anything about how the commands work.
It is up to you to supply commands that will update the target file
properly.  All `make' does is execute the commands in the rule you have
specified when the target file needs to be updated.)

   The target `clean' is not a file, but merely the name of an action.
Since you normally do not want to carry out the actions in this rule,
`clean' is not a prerequisite of any other rule.  Consequently, `make'
never does anything with it unless you tell it specifically.  Note that
this rule not only is not a prerequisite, it also does not have any
prerequisites, so the only purpose of the rule is to run the specified
commands.  Targets that do not refer to files but are just actions are
called "phony targets".  Note: Phony Targets, for information about
this kind of target.  Note: Errors in Commands, to see how to
cause `make' to ignore errors from `rm' or any other command.