The Howdy Glossary

Make is a build automation tool used in software development to manage the compilation and linking of project files. It utilizes directives in a text file, known as a makefile, to define file relationships and build rules, allowing for efficient creation of software by recompiling only the necessary components that have changed since the last build. Stuart Feldman created Make in 1976 while working at Bell Labs to automate the compilation process and improve efficiency.

Make automates software builds by determining dependencies among files and executing necessary actions based on rules specified in the makefile. This feature helps identify which files need recompilation or linking, making the process more efficient. Unlike other tools that may require rebuilding everything from scratch each time, Make’s ability to recompile only modified parts saves time and resources. Its simplicity through text-based formatting contributes to ease of use across projects of varying complexities.

Competitors like Apache Ant, Apache Maven, and Rake cater to specific environments such as Java and Ruby but often introduce complexity with XML configurations or language-specific syntax. In contrast, Make's reliance on straightforward text files for defining dependencies makes it versatile across different programming languages and platforms. Make's performance advantage lies in its selective recompilation capability leading to faster builds. Its platform-agnostic nature focuses on streamlined automation ensuring accurate project management without unnecessary rebuilding of unchanged components.