Valuable features of GNU Make include its ability to handle dependencies efficiently by avoiding unnecessary rebuilds, static pattern rules for source compilation, and support for non-standard makefile names. Users benefit from its integration capabilities with third-party tools like Automake and optimized code compilation with specific flags. It is widely adopted on Linux platforms, offering a full-featured declarative syntax and easy terminal usage, making it accessible and efficient for diverse build processes.
- "The initial setup of GNU Make is straightforward."
- "I have not encountered any scalability issues with GNU Make. It is as scalable as the project's structure is, and then some."
- "Full-featured syntax allows building strategies as simple or as complex as one wishes, and declarative approach fits the task really well. Wide adoption also means that everybody knows what GNU Make is and how to use it."
GNU Make struggles with dependency issues across kernels and lacks reliability in large or incremental builds. It differentiates files by timestamps not contents, complicating platform-specific builds. Another challenge is writing makefiles due to limited support for conditionals and a lack of data types. Circular dependencies can require manual fixes, and some editors mishandle the required Tab symbol. Additionally, it lacks features like native colored output and platform-specific customization.
- "GNU Make does not provide traditional customer support."
- "Vanilla GNU Make does not support any kind of colored output. A wrapper named colormake exists to work around this, but native (opt-in) support would be welcome."
- "GNU Make requires using the Tab symbol as the first symbol of command line for execution. In some text editors this can be problematic, as they automatically insert spaces instead of tabs."
