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The GNU Make Book
GNU make is the most widely used build automation tool, but it can be intimidating for new users and its terse language can be tough to parse for even experienced programmers. Those who run into difficulties face a long, involved struggle, often leaving unsolved problems behind and GNU make's vast potential untapped.
The GNU Make Book demystifies GNU make and shows you how to use its best features. You'll find a fast, thorough rundown of the basics of variables, rules, targets, and makefiles. Learn how to fix wastefully long build times and other common problems, and gain insight into more advanced capabilities, such as complex pattern rules. With this utterly pragmatic manual and cookbook, you'll make rapid progress toward becoming a more effective user.
You'll also learn how to:
Master user-defined functions, variables, and path handling
Weigh the pitfalls and advantages of GNU make parallelization
Handle automatic dependency generation, rebuilding, and non-recursive make
Modify the GNU make source and take advantage of the GNU Make Standard Library
Create makefile assertions and debug makefiles
GNU make is known for being tricky to use, but it doesn't have to be. Seasoned users and newbies alike will find The GNU Make Book to be an indispensable guide to this indispensable tool.
The GNU Make Book demystifies GNU make and shows you how to use its best features. You'll find a fast, thorough rundown of the basics of variables, rules, targets, and makefiles. Learn how to fix wastefully long build times and other common problems, and gain insight into more advanced capabilities, such as complex pattern rules. With this utterly pragmatic manual and cookbook, you'll make rapid progress toward becoming a more effective user.
You'll also learn how to:
Master user-defined functions, variables, and path handling
Weigh the pitfalls and advantages of GNU make parallelization
Handle automatic dependency generation, rebuilding, and non-recursive make
Modify the GNU make source and take advantage of the GNU Make Standard Library
Create makefile assertions and debug makefiles
GNU make is known for being tricky to use, but it doesn't have to be. Seasoned users and newbies alike will find The GNU Make Book to be an indispensable guide to this indispensable tool.
256 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2015
17 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 9, 2023
"The GNU Make Book" by John Graham-Cumming is an outstanding resource for anyone who wants to master the art of GNU Make. This book provides a comprehensive guide to the GNU Make tool, including detailed explanations of its features, examples of how to use it, and practical advice for optimizing its performance.
One of the things that sets this book apart is the author's expertise and experience with GNU Make. Graham-Cumming is a respected expert in the field of software engineering, and his knowledge and insights shine through in this book. He provides clear explanations of how GNU Make works, as well as tips and tricks for getting the most out of the tool.
Another strength of the book is its practical focus. Graham-Cumming provides numerous examples and case studies throughout the book, showing how GNU Make can be used to automate build processes, manage dependencies, and improve overall productivity. He also provides detailed guidance on debugging, testing, and troubleshooting, making this book a valuable resource for anyone who wants to use GNU Make effectively.
Overall, "The GNU Make Book" is an excellent resource for anyone who works with GNU Make on a regular basis. Whether you are a software developer, systems administrator, or someone who simply wants to learn more about this powerful tool, this book provides the guidance and insights you need to become a GNU Make expert. Highly recommended.
One of the things that sets this book apart is the author's expertise and experience with GNU Make. Graham-Cumming is a respected expert in the field of software engineering, and his knowledge and insights shine through in this book. He provides clear explanations of how GNU Make works, as well as tips and tricks for getting the most out of the tool.
Another strength of the book is its practical focus. Graham-Cumming provides numerous examples and case studies throughout the book, showing how GNU Make can be used to automate build processes, manage dependencies, and improve overall productivity. He also provides detailed guidance on debugging, testing, and troubleshooting, making this book a valuable resource for anyone who wants to use GNU Make effectively.
Overall, "The GNU Make Book" is an excellent resource for anyone who works with GNU Make on a regular basis. Whether you are a software developer, systems administrator, or someone who simply wants to learn more about this powerful tool, this book provides the guidance and insights you need to become a GNU Make expert. Highly recommended.
January 7, 2025
The book provides a collections of advanced tips/tricks to manage large-scale makefile(s) so this book is definitely not for beginners (although the section about pitfalls is relatable to all levels). I imagine this book is a good reference for someone (maybe SRE) who needs to maintain large codebases, but to me, not so much.
March 31, 2019
Great reference. I expect I will revisit it.
It didn't totally convince me re: non-recursive make, though.
It didn't totally convince me re: non-recursive make, though.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews