Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
makefile

makefile

1 7.5
A file that tells a computer how to build a program automatically
  • noun
  • /ˈmeɪkfaɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : makefile
  • You can modify the makefile to include additional libraries required for your application.

Examples

  • The developer shared his makefile, which simplifies the process of compiling the code.

  • However, I cannot find a makefile or anything similar to compile/package the code.

    Blog text (23)

  • There may be an error in the Makefile, which means that particular SVN revision/commit can never be used to refresh the database.

    Blog text (13)

  • Rakep reads an Assetfile, which is the equivalent of Rakefile in Rake or Makefile in make.

    Blog text (14)

  • I have called Makefiles from other Makefiles in the past, but this solution takes the cake, unless of course you think "include /some/other/Makefile" doesn't look nice.

    Blog text (1)

  • A makefile contains a set of instructions for automatically building software projects.

How Comprehensive

bundler
  • Specialized
6.8
package
  • Specialized
227 4.2
makefile
  • Specialized
1 7.5
script
  • Specialized
70 3.6

Surface Forms

makefile singular
makefiles plural

Morphology

makefile = make + file (transparent) = make + file

A straightforward technical compound meaning 'a file associated with the make build tool' and directly interpretable from its components.

Etymology

Makefile is simply two English words: make ('to build') and file ('a document with information'). It was named for the tool make that reads this file to tell a computer how to turn code into a program, so a makefile is the set of instructions that automatically builds software.