The GNU Make and C++ Programmer’s Primer

Creating Makefiles, Applications, and Libraries using the GNU Tool Set

Created by: Randall Nagy
Software Engineer & Educator

What Will I Learn?

• Understand how to use GNU `make` to manage common software development activities.
• Learn the "critical path" options most frequently required to build C++ applications.
• Use GNU's `dbg` and `xxgdb` tools to perform stack-based debugging.
• Create libraries designed to be shared between multiple C++ applications.
• Understand the difference between static & dynamic library types.
• Discover how GNU's `make` uses rules, dependencies, recipes, and macros to create software.
• Learn how to include, inspect, and remove source code from your debugging sessions.

Requirements

• Students must be able to start & exit a "command line" or "console" user interface.
• Students should be able to run GNU's `make` from a `bash` shell, or from Cygwin.
• GNU's C++ Tool Set must also be installed.

Target audience

• First-time C/C++ software developers on Linux, macOS, or Cygwin on Microsoft Windows.
• New software professionals who are interested in learning how to make static and dynamic libraries.
• Students who have never used the classic GNU "MAKE," "LINK," "GPP," and / or related produce suite.
• Software professionals interested in creating common variables, targets, and other "Recipe" coventions for GNU Make.