Managing Projects with Make ^{2nd Ed.}

make is one of UNIX's greatest contribution to software development, and this book is without question the clearest description of make ever written.

Even the smallest software project typically involves a number of files that depend upon each other in various ways. If you modify one or more source files, you must re-link the program after re-compiling some, but not necessarily all, of the sources.

make greatly simplifies this process. By recording the specific relationship between a set of files, make can automatically perform all updating tasks.

Topics covered include:

• Writing a simple makefile
• Shell variable
• Internal macros
• Suffix rules
• Special description file targets
• Maintaining libraries
• Invoking make recursively

This handbook covers the augmented version of make shipped with System V. It is also useful with older versions of make.

1. How to Write a Simple Makefile
• The Description File
• Invoking make
• More about Dependency Lines
• Commands
2. Macros
• Shell Variables
• Internal Macros
3. Suffix Rules
• How Suffix Rules Work
• Types of Suffix Rules
• Writing Your Own Suffix Rules
4. Command-line Usage and Special Targets
• The Command Line
• Trouble-shooting
5. Out-of-the-way Topics
• More About Macros
• Maintaining Libraries
• Recursive invocation of make

1. Quick-reference
2. Sample Default Macros, Suffixes, and Rules
3. A Large Description File

This brings back memories… I gave this to my future wife in 1988 (obviously the right way to do it, as the 100 red roses I sent didn't spark much of a reaction).