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Build Systems

In software engineering, a build system is a collection of tools and scripts that automates the process of transforming source code into a usable binary, like an executable program. Imagine it as an assembly line for software.

There are several advantages to using a build system:

  • Efficiency: Build systems automate repetitive tasks like compiling code, linking libraries, and running tests. This saves developers time and effort.
  • Reliability: By automating the build process, build systems help to ensure that the same steps are followed every time, regardless of who is building the software or what machine they are using. This leads to more reliable builds.
  • Repeatability: A good build system allows you to rebuild the software with a single command. This is important for things like continuous integration, where the software is automatically built and tested every time there is a change to the code.
  • Dependency Management: Build systems can track the dependencies between different parts of a software project. This ensures that the correct versions of all libraries and other resources are used when building the software.

Overall, build systems are an essential tool for software engineers. They help to streamline the development process, improve the quality of the software, and make it easier to collaborate on large projects.

GNU Make​

GNU Make is a tool which controls the generation of executables and other non-source files of a program from the program's source files. Make gets its knowledge of how to build your program from a file called the makefile, which lists each of the non-source files and how to compute it from other files. When you write a program, you should write a makefile for it, so that it is possible to use Make to build and install the program.

Most of our projects utilize GNU Make as the build system. It is a powerful and easy to use. So learning it is mandatory.