Make reads a file that you create, called a makefile, which contains information about what files to build and how to build them. In conjunction with SCCS, you can use make to ensure that a large software project is built from the desired versions in an entire hierarchy of source files. You can use make to update and maintain object libraries, to run test suites, and to install files onto a file system or tape. You can also use it to automate any complicated or repetitive task that is not interactive. Make provides features that simplify compilations. It helps compile programs consistently and eliminates unnecessary recompilation of modules that are unaffected by source code changes. Make streamlines the process of generating and maintaining object files and executable programs.

Refer to ' make Enhancements Summary ' for a complete summary of enhancements and compatibility issues. Makefiles that rely on enhancements might not be compatible with other versions of this utility (see Appendix A, 'System V make' for more information on previous versions of make). This version of the make utility runs successfully with makefiles written for previous versions of make. This chapter describes the make utility, which includes:

Makefile for c program with header file