Makefile patterns for project automation and build tasks. Use when user asks to "create Makefile", "add make target", "automate with make", "build commands", or set up project automation with GNU Make.
Scanned 9/4/2026
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---
name: makefile
description: Makefile patterns for project automation and build tasks. Use when user asks to "create Makefile", "add make target", "automate with make", "build commands", or set up project automation with GNU Make.
---
# Makefile
Project automation with GNU Make.
## Basic Structure
```makefile
# Variables
APP_NAME := myapp
VERSION := 1.0.0
# Default target (first target)
.DEFAULT_GOAL := help
# Phony targets (not files)
.PHONY: help build run test clean
help: ## Show this help
@grep -E '^[a-zA-Z_-]+:.*?## .*$$' $(MAKEFILE_LIST) | sort | awk 'BEGIN {FS = ":.*?## "}; {printf "\033[36m%-20s\033[0m %s\n", $$1, $$2}'
build: ## Build the application
go build -o bin/$(APP_NAME) ./cmd/$(APP_NAME)
run: ## Run the application
go run ./cmd/$(APP_NAME)
test: ## Run tests
go test -v ./...
clean: ## Clean build artifacts
rm -rf bin/ dist/
```
## Common Patterns
### Development Workflow
```makefile
.PHONY: dev build test lint format
dev: ## Start development server
npm run dev
build: ## Build for production
npm run build
test: ## Run tests
npm test
lint: ## Run linter
npm run lint
format: ## Format code
npm run format
check: lint test ## Run all checks
```
### Docker Targets
```makefile
IMAGE_NAME := myapp
IMAGE_TAG := latest
.PHONY: docker-build docker-run docker-push
docker-build: ## Build Docker image
docker build -t $(IMAGE_NAME):$(IMAGE_TAG) .
docker-run: ## Run Docker container
docker run -p 8080:8080 $(IMAGE_NAME):$(IMAGE_TAG)
docker-push: ## Push to registry
docker push $(IMAGE_NAME):$(IMAGE_TAG)
```
### Database Tasks
```makefile
.PHONY: db-up db-down db-migrate db-seed
db-up: ## Start database
docker compose up -d db
db-down: ## Stop database
docker compose down
db-migrate: ## Run migrations
npx prisma migrate dev
db-seed: ## Seed database
npx prisma db seed
```
### Environment Setup
```makefile
.PHONY: setup install deps
setup: install deps ## Full setup
@echo "Setup complete!"
install: ## Install tools
brew install go node
deps: ## Install dependencies
go mod download
npm install
```
## Variables
```makefile
# Simple assignment
CC := gcc
# Recursive (evaluated when used)
FILES = $(shell find . -name "*.go")
# Conditional
DEBUG ?= 0
ifeq ($(DEBUG), 1)
CFLAGS += -g
endif
# Environment
export NODE_ENV := production
```
## Dependencies
```makefile
# Target depends on prerequisites
build: src/main.go src/utils.go
go build -o app $^
# Pattern rules
%.o: %.c
$(CC) -c $< -o $@
# Order-only (directory creation)
build: | bin
go build -o bin/app
bin:
mkdir -p bin
```
## Conditionals
```makefile
OS := $(shell uname -s)
ifeq ($(OS), Darwin)
OPEN := open
else
OPEN := xdg-open
endif
docs: ## Open documentation
$(OPEN) docs/index.html
```
## Useful Recipes
### Include Other Files
```makefile
-include .env
include scripts/docker.mk
```
### Silent Execution
```makefile
install:
@echo "Installing..."
@npm install
```
### Multi-line Commands
```makefile
deploy:
@echo "Deploying..." && \
npm run build && \
aws s3 sync dist/ s3://bucket/
```
### Run with Args
```bash
# make run ARGS="--port 3000"
```
```makefile
run:
node server.js $(ARGS)
```
## Project Template
```makefile
.DEFAULT_GOAL := help
SHELL := /bin/bash
# ============================================
# Variables
# ============================================
APP_NAME := myapp
VERSION := $(shell git describe --tags --always)
# ============================================
# Development
# ============================================
.PHONY: dev build test lint
dev: ## Start dev server
npm run dev
build: ## Build project
npm run build
test: ## Run tests
npm test
lint: ## Run linter
npm run lint
# ============================================
# Docker
# ============================================
.PHONY: docker-build docker-up docker-down
docker-build: ## Build image
docker build -t $(APP_NAME):$(VERSION) .
docker-up: ## Start services
docker compose up -d
docker-down: ## Stop services
docker compose down
# ============================================
# Utilities
# ============================================
.PHONY: clean help
clean: ## Clean artifacts
rm -rf dist/ node_modules/
help: ## Show help
@grep -E '^[a-zA-Z_-]+:.*?## .*$$' $(MAKEFILE_LIST) | awk 'BEGIN {FS = ":.*?## "}; {printf "\033[36m%-15s\033[0m %s\n", $$1, $$2}'
```
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