Announcing 'build', Auto-Configuration In 1000 Lines Of Makefile (github.com)

Christophe de Dinechin created the XL programming language -- and as descubes he's also Slashdot reader #35,093. Today he shares his latest project, a simple makefile-based build system that he's split from ELFE/XL: Most open-source projects use tools such as autoconf and automake. For C and C++ projects, build is a make-based alternative that offers auto-configuration, build logs, colorization, testing and install targets, in about 1000 lines of makefile. A sample makefile looks like this:

BUILD=./
SOURCES=hello.cpp
PRODUCTS=hello.exe
CONFIG= <stdio.h> <iostream> clearenv libm
TESTS=product
include $(BUILD)rules.mk

Comments

Wrong tool! Focus on what we need!

[Anonymous Coward]

The C and C++ world does not need another build system, it needs dependency management systems! It needs tools like https://conan.io/, tools where you can specify what libraries you need independent of what is installed on the host system. Essentially, we need a system like Maven but for native code.

Multiple versions locally that don't conflict (so .deb doesn't cut it), control over C++ ABI and build type, transitive dependency closure, the works. Work on that, not another damn build system!

Re:Wrong tool! Focus on what we need!

[Chris Mattern]

but... but... colorization

The code is closer to the original artistic vision when it's left in the original black and white.