Makefile Cheat Sheet/Order-only prerequisite

Require creation order without forcing rebuilds when the prerequisite timestamp changes.

Section: Targets, prerequisites, and recipes

Order-only prerequisite

makefile

dist/app.js: src/app.js | dist
	cp $< $@

dist:
	mkdir -p dist

Explanation

Prerequisites after `|` enforce order only.

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Compare similar commands or jump into common fixes when this command is part of a bigger troubleshooting path.

Same sheet · prioritizing Targets, prerequisites, and recipes

Rebuild target when any listed prerequisite changes.

Open In sheetmakefilesame section

Define a target, prerequisites, and recipe.

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Create a target that does not represent a file.

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Attach the same recipe to multiple targets.

Open In sheetmakefilesame section

Track completion of a step using a timestamp file.

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Remove build artifacts.

Open In sheetmakefilesame section