Making is the process of creating software programs that allow users to manipulate files and other data. There are a number of ways to specify a makefile. These include explicit rules for each file that makemake should recreate, implicit rules that describe a target’s dependencies, and directives that tell making to do special things. These can be overridden by command-line arguments and environment variables.

The main idea of make is to combine commands for different targets into a single file, eliminating the need for multiple operating systems and shell scripts. This approach enables GNU Make to abstract away complicated aspects of file handling, such as dependency tracking and archive handling. Remake, a fork of GNU Make, provides additional extensions and a debugger.

Maker projects offer a much more engaging educational experience than formal K-12 education systems, which rely on measurable knowledge and ability. In contrast, maker projects give students an opportunity to experiment and explore their newly acquired knowledge. These projects can also result in a functional invention, which has real-world uses. Additionally, the open-ended nature of making projects encourages students to ask questions and fosters rich learning experiences that are difficult to quantify through test scores.

The use of suffix rules is also helpful in large projects. For instance, suffix rules let Make automatically identify whether a file is a prerequisite or a dependency. This is especially useful when you are building a large software project. In this way, make can automatically decide which files to include and which files to link.

The makefile language is similar to declarative programming. It specifies the necessary end conditions for the desired outcome. This means that the order in which the steps occur is not important. It is important to understand how makefiles work, as there are a number of different ways to accomplish the same task. Makefiles allow users to create software without writing a single line of code.