makefile
OUT := $(subst src/,build/,$(SRC))Notes
Useful for path rewrites and simple string replacement.
Makefile Functions & Text Processing
GNU make text, path, conditional, shell, and metaprogramming functions with practical examples.
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Copy the compact sheet, download it, or print it.
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Text and list functions
Manipulate words, whitespace, patterns, and filenames.
makefile
OBJ := $(patsubst %.c,%.o,$(SRC))Notes
A core building block in many makefiles.
strip whitespace
Trim extra leading, trailing, and repeated internal whitespace.
makefileANYfunctionsstrip
makefile
NAME := $(strip $(NAME))Notes
Useful before equality tests or diagnostics.
makefile
HAS_TEST := $(findstring test,$(MAKECMDGOALS))Notes
A simple way to check for word presence.
makefile
FIRST := $(word 1,$(FILES))
REST := $(wordlist 2,$(words $(FILES)),$(FILES))Notes
Handy when manipulating word lists.
makefile
CURRENT_MK := $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))Notes
A common pattern when introspecting included makefiles.
makefile
PAIRS := $(join a b c,.o .d .map)Notes
Less common, but useful for generated file lists.
makefile
BINS := $(addprefix dist/,$(TARGETS))
OBJ := $(addsuffix .o,$(NAMES))Notes
Very common in build list generation.
makefile
DIRS := $(dir $(FILES))
BASE := $(basename $(FILES))Notes
Useful for path manipulation without shelling out.
makefile
ROOT := $(realpath .)
CACHE := $(abspath .cache)Notes
`realpath` resolves symlinks when possible; `abspath` just normalizes.
Conditional and boolean-like functions
Inline branching without parser-level `ifeq`.
makefile
MODE_MSG := $(if $(CI),ci-mode,local-mode)Notes
Good when you need expression-like branching inside variables.
makefile
PORT := $(or $(APP_PORT),3000)Notes
Useful for defaults and override chains.
makefile
READY := $(and $(DB_URL),$(API_KEY),yes)Notes
Handy for gating optional behavior.
makefile
RESULT := $(intcmp $(JOBS),8,lt,eq,gt)Notes
Useful when you need numeric branching purely inside make.
Shell, call, eval, and generated rules
The metaprogramming toolbox for large makefiles.
makefile
GIT_SHA := $(shell git rev-parse --short HEAD)Notes
Use sparingly; every call runs during parsing.
call macro with arguments
Invoke a user-defined macro like a function.
makefileANYfunctionscallmacros
makefile
define banner
$(info === $(1) ===)
endef
$(call banner,Deploying API)Notes
`$(1)`, `$(2)`, and so on are positional arguments inside `define` blocks and recursive vars.
makefile
define make-test-target
.PHONY: test-$(1)
test-$(1):
pytest -q tests/$(1)
endef
$(foreach p,unit integration e2e,$(eval $(call make-test-target,$(p))))Notes
`eval` lets make parse generated text as makefile syntax.
makefile
RAW_RULE := $(value SOME_TEMPLATE)Notes
Useful when working with `eval` and templates.
makefile
$(file >build/version.txt,$(VERSION))Notes
GNU make can create or append files during parsing or expansion.
makefile
$(warning building with DEBUG=$(DEBUG))
$(if $(DB_URL),,$(error DB_URL is required))Notes
Great for fail-fast validation of required inputs.
makefile
$(info Sources: $(SRC))Notes
Helpful when debugging generated variables and includes.
Useful function recipes
Practical patterns built from core functions.
Self-documenting help target
Extract target comments from the current makefile.
makefileANYhelprecipesawk
makefile
.PHONY: help
help:
@grep -E '^[a-zA-Z0-9_.-]+:.*?## ' $(MAKEFILE_LIST) | sort | awk 'BEGIN {FS = ":.*?## "}; {printf "%-24s %s
", $$1, $$2}'Notes
Popular pattern for `make help`.
makefile
$(info goals=$(MAKECMDGOALS))Notes
`MAKECMDGOALS` contains explicit command-line goals.
Current makefile name
Get the most recently parsed makefile path.
makefileANYspecial-variablesmakefile-list
makefile
CURRENT_MK := $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))Notes
A practical use of `MAKEFILE_LIST`.
makefile
empty :=
space := $(empty) $(empty)
comma := ,Notes
Useful in advanced text generation scenarios.
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Portable makefile patterns that work across POSIX make environments, avoiding GNU-only features when needed.
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Comprehensive GNU make and Makefile reference covering targets, prerequisites, recipes, variables, includes, conditionals, pattern rules, and command-line usage.