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Programming - Make - Basic Make Example

Basic Example

#include <stdio.h>
 
int main()
{
  printf("Hello World");
  return 0;
}

hello: hello.c

make

returns:

cc     hello.c   -o hello

NOTE: This compiles the C program.

Most distributions will have cc pointing to the default C compiler.

make

returns:

make: 'hello' is up to date.

NOTE: As nothing has changed, there is no need for Make to recompile the C program.

To have the program be recompiled:

Use variables within the Makefile:

CC=gcc
CFLAGS=-g
hello : hello.c

returns:

gcc -g    hello.c   -o hello

CC=gcc
CFLAGS=-g
# Comment next line to turn off optimization
CFLAGS+=-O
hello : hello.c

**NOTE: The implicit rule being used is:

$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(CPPFLAGS) hello.c -o hello