bash
makeNotes
Reads `GNUmakefile`, `makefile`, or `Makefile` and builds the default goal.
Makefile Cheat Sheet
Comprehensive GNU make and Makefile reference covering targets, prerequisites, recipes, variables, includes, conditionals, pattern rules, and command-line usage.
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Core make commands
Run make, choose files, select targets, and control execution.
bash
make testNotes
Builds or executes the recipe for target `test`.
bash
make -f build/Makefile deployNotes
Use `-f` to point make at a specific file.
bash
make -C services/api testNotes
Useful in monorepos and wrapper scripts.
bash
make -j8Notes
Allows multiple recipes to run in parallel when dependencies permit.
bash
make -n deployNotes
Great for inspecting what a target would do.
bash
make -tNotes
Useful for recovery and dependency graph alignment.
bash
make -qNotes
Handy in CI checks or wrapper scripts.
bash
make --print-directory -C app testNotes
Useful when debugging recursive make.
bash
make --debug=bNotes
GNU make supports several debug modes such as `a`, `b`, `v`, `i`, `j`, and `m`.
Warn on undefined variables
Emit warnings when undefined variables are expanded.
bashANYclivariablesdebug
bash
make --warn-undefined-variablesNotes
Very useful in large makefiles with many variables.
bash
make -p -nNotes
Shows built-in rules, variables, and parsed state.
Targets, prerequisites, and recipes
Core makefile structure and everyday patterns.
makefile
build/app: main.o util.o
cc -o build/app main.o util.oNotes
A rule maps a target to prerequisites and the commands needed to update it.
Rule with multiple prerequisites
Rebuild target when any listed prerequisite changes.
makefileANYrulesprerequisitesautomatic-variables
makefile
bundle.js: app.js ui.js api.js
cat $^ > $@Notes
`$^` expands to all prerequisites and `$@` to the target name within the recipe.
makefile
.PHONY: test
test:
pytest -qNotes
Use phony targets for commands like `test`, `clean`, and `deploy`.
Multiple targets one recipe
Attach the same recipe to multiple targets.
makefileANYrulesmultiple-targets
makefile
.PHONY: lint fmt
lint fmt:
pnpm biome check .Notes
Useful when several targets truly run the same command.
Order-only prerequisite
Require creation order without forcing rebuilds when the prerequisite timestamp changes.
makefileANYprerequisitesorder-onlydirectories
makefile
dist/app.js: src/app.js | dist
cp $< $@
dist:
mkdir -p distNotes
Prerequisites after `|` enforce order only.
makefile
node_modules/.stamp: package-lock.json
npm ci
touch $@
Notes
A stamp file is often cleaner than making a phony install target rerun every time.
makefile
.PHONY: clean
clean:
rm -rf dist build *.oNotes
Classic maintenance target.
Set explicit default goal
Choose which target runs when the user invokes plain `make`.
makefileANYdefault-goalspecial-targets
makefile
.DEFAULT_GOAL := helpNotes
Clearer than relying on the first target in the file.
Variables and assignment
Recursive, simple, conditional, and shell-expanded variables.
makefile
SRC = $(wildcard src/*.c)Notes
`=` creates a recursively expanded variable.
makefile
CURDIR_ABS := $(shell pwd)Notes
`:=` is useful when you want shell commands or functions evaluated once.
makefile
CFLAGS += -Wall -WextraNotes
Works with both recursive and simple variables.
makefile
ENV ?= devNotes
Often used with environment overrides like `make ENV=prod deploy`.
bash
make IMAGE_TAG=2026.03.06 deployNotes
Command-line variables override normal makefile assignments.
makefile
override CFLAGS += -gNotes
Use sparingly when the makefile must enforce a setting.
Export variable to recipes
Pass a variable into the shell environment of recipe commands.
makefileANYvariablesexportenvironment
makefile
export AWS_PROFILE := prod-adminNotes
Exported variables are inherited by recipe shells and recursive make invocations.
Stop exporting a variable
Prevent a variable from propagating to recipes and sub-makes.
makefileANYvariablesunexportenvironment
makefile
unexport DEBUGNotes
Useful when a parent environment leaks unwanted values.
makefile
$(info CC came from $(origin CC))Notes
Origins include `default`, `environment`, `file`, `command line`, and more.
Inspect variable flavor
Check whether a variable is recursive or simple.
makefileANYvariablesdiagnostics
makefile
$(info CFLAGS flavor: $(flavor CFLAGS))Notes
Useful when debugging unexpected expansions.
Includes and conditionals
Split makefiles and branch on environment or platform.
makefile
include config.mk rules/*.mkNotes
`include` is excellent for shared project fragments.
makefile
-include .env.mkNotes
Common for generated dependency files and local overrides.
makefile
ifeq ($(ENV),prod)
API_URL := https://api.example.com
else
API_URL := https://api.dev.example.com
endifNotes
GNU make conditionals run during parsing, not execution.
makefile
ifdef CI
TEST_FLAGS += --maxfail=1
endifNotes
Useful for CI-vs-local behavior.
OS-specific include
Branch based on operating system or shell-provided variables.
makefileANYconditionalsplatform
makefile
ifeq ($(OS),Windows_NT)
RM := del /Q
else
RM := rm -f
endifNotes
Portable projects often branch on Windows vs Unix-like behavior.
Special targets and behavior control
Targets that alter how make interprets rules and files.
makefile
.PHONY: all clean test lint format helpNotes
Prevents file name collisions and speeds make slightly by skipping implicit rule search.
makefile
.SILENT:
# or prefix a line with @Notes
Silence all recipes or use `@command` for individual lines.
Delete target on error
Remove a partially built target if the recipe fails.
makefileANYspecial-targetserrors
makefile
.DELETE_ON_ERROR:Notes
Helpful for avoiding corrupt output files after failures.
One shell per recipe
Run all lines of a recipe in a single shell instance.
makefileANYspecial-targetsshell
makefile
.ONESHELL:
deploy:
set -eu
cd infra
terraform apply -auto-approveNotes
Without `.ONESHELL`, each recipe line runs in a separate shell.
Secondary expansion
Allow a second variable expansion for prerequisites.
makefileANYspecial-targetsexpansionadvanced
makefile
.SECONDEXPANSION:
$(OUT_DIR)/%.o: $$(SRC_DIR)/%.c
cc -c $< -o $@Notes
Advanced GNU make feature used with dynamic prerequisite lists.
Disable parallelism
Force serial execution for all or selected targets.
makefileANYspecial-targetsparallel
makefile
.NOTPARALLEL:Notes
Useful for non-parallel-safe recipes.
More in Makefile
Makefile Recipes for Real Projects
Production-oriented Makefile targets for apps, Docker, Terraform, Python, Node, Go, and deployment workflows.
Makefile Debugging, Parallelism & CI
Debug make behavior, inspect variables, run parallel builds safely, and build reliable CI targets.
Makefile Portable POSIX Patterns
Portable makefile patterns that work across POSIX make environments, avoiding GNU-only features when needed.
Makefile Functions & Text Processing
GNU make text, path, conditional, shell, and metaprogramming functions with practical examples.
Makefile Pattern Rules & Dependency Generation
Pattern rules, wildcarding, implicit rules, static pattern rules, and generated dependency files in GNU make.