The make Utility

The make utility applies intelligence to the task of program compilation and linking. Typically, a large application may exist as a set of source files and INCLUDE files, which require linking with a number of libraries. Modifying any one or more of the source files requires recompilation of that part of the program and relinking. You can automate this process by specifying the interdependencies between files that make up the application along with the commands needed to recompile and relink each piece. With these specifications in a file of directives, make insures that only the files that need recompiling are recompiled and that relinking uses the options and libraries you want.