What is a makefile?
Makefiles are a form of configuration file that is utilized by the make utility in order to identify the location of source files that will be used in an application. The makefile helps to not only locate the source files, but also helps to define how they will be compiled and linked to one another in order to enable an executable program to launch and function. The creation of a makefile is an essential process with just about all types of computer programming. Because the makefile helps to define the direction and function of various programs, it is an essential part of the script that is part of all make utility protocols. Make utilities may vary somewhat from one programming application to another. However, it is important to note that just about all make utility variations will carry the same basic components found in such well regarding utilities, such as Unix. In general, the makefile will be made up of several lines of text that will define a file or a set of files. Each of the
Make is Unix utility that is designed to start execution of a makefile. A makefile is a special file, containing shell commands, that you create and name makefile (or Makefile depending upon the system). While in the directory containing this makefile, you will type make and the commands in the makefile will be executed. If you create more than one makefile, be certain you are in the correct directory before typing make. Make keeps track of the last time files (normally object files) were updated and only updates those files which are required (ones containing changes) to keep the sourcefile up-to-date. If you have a large program with many source and/or header files, when you change a file on which others depend, you must recompile all the dependent files. Without a makefile, this is an extremely time-consuming task. As a makefile is a list of shell commands, it must be written for the shell which will process the makefile. A makefile that works well in one shell may not execute prope
A Makefile is a configuration file for the Unix make utility. You can use the make utility to manage the complicated process of compiling programs from multiple source files. A Makefile includes a list of the source files to be compiled, along with the configuration options for the compiler program. A Makefile may also include instructions for moving the binary files to their final location, and cleaning up after an installation.
A makefile is a set of rules to compile your source code files. The makefile is just a text file containing the rules. You need a make utility (program/tool) to actually execute those rules. The basic benefit is if you have a lot of files for your program, the makefile is smart enough to know which files were changed and it will compile them for you. So if you had 100 files and only modified 1, it would know to only re-compile the 1 file, and possibily any other files that use it (dependent on it).
