CODEWITHSUNDEEP
makefilebuild-automation
Rogach
Rogach

Reputation: 27200

Why `make` executes only the dependency?

I have the following Makefile:

compile:
    echo a
run: compile
    echo b
all: run

make all has the expected effect:

$ make all
echo a
a
echo b
b

But simply invoking make only executes compile target:

$ make
echo a
a

Why is this happening?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 78

Answers (2)

Sagar Sakre
Sagar Sakre

Reputation: 2426

When you just execute make the first target will be executed by default. Its a convention to keep all as a first dependency even though it can be anywhere as you did unless you pass all to make. And even check out .PHONY.

Upvotes: 2

user2250269
user2250269

Reputation: 36

By default, make runs the first target, which in your case is compile: http://www.gnu.org/software/make/manual/html_node/How-Make-Works.html#How-Make-Works

If you want all to be the default target, list it first.

Upvotes: 2

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