I got a C project to compile and run in Linux. It is a very big project with many subdirectories. Inside the parent directory there are files <code>Makefile.am</code> and <code>Makefile.in</code>. I tried running <code>make -f Makefile.am</code>, and got the following error: <pre class="prettyprint"><code>make: Nothing to be done for `Makefile.am'. </code></pre> What does it mean? How do I accomplish my task?

These files are used with the Autotools suite. Makefile.am files are compiled to Makefiles using automake. Have a look to see if there is a <code>configure</code> script in the directory. If there is, then type: <pre class="prettyprint"><code>./configure </code></pre> If not, then run: <pre class="prettyprint"><code>autoreconf </code></pre> in the directory, which should create the <code>configure</code> script (you will need to have the Autotools suite installed to run this). After that, you should have a <code>configure</code> script that you can run. After the configure is complete, you should have a normal Makefile in the directory, and will be able to run <pre class="prettyprint"><code>make </code></pre>

What has been left out: <ul> <li>Makefile.am are transformed to Makefile.in using automake.</li> <li>Makefile.in are transformed to Makefile by running configure.</li> </ul> Neither of these (Makefile.{am,in}) are supposed to be used with <code>make -f</code>. If the tarball already ships with configure, just run that and make. If it does not, run <code>./autogen.sh</code> or <code>bootstrap</code>(*). If that does not exist, use <code>autoreconf</code> instead. (*) autogen/bootstrap: A convenience script added by developers that should just call <code>autoreconf</code>. Unfortunately there are some people that eschew autoreconf and unnecessarily call all the lowlevel commands themselves.

Can't run Makefile.am, what should I do?

Tags:

c++

linux

makefile

autotools

I got a C project to compile and run in Linux. It is a very big project with many subdirectories. Inside the parent directory there are files Makefile.am and Makefile.in.

I tried running make -f Makefile.am, and got the following error:

make: Nothing to be done for `Makefile.am'.

What does it mean? How do I accomplish my task?

419

asked Nov 17 '10 09:11

sara

2 Answers

These files are used with the Autotools suite. Makefile.am files are compiled to Makefiles using automake.

Have a look to see if there is a configure script in the directory. If there is, then type:

./configure

If not, then run:

autoreconf

in the directory, which should create the configure script (you will need to have the Autotools suite installed to run this).

After that, you should have a configure script that you can run.

After the configure is complete, you should have a normal Makefile in the directory, and will be able to run

make

103

answered Sep 21 '22 14:09

Lee Netherton

What has been left out:

Makefile.am are transformed to Makefile.in using automake.
Makefile.in are transformed to Makefile by running configure.

Neither of these (Makefile.{am,in}) are supposed to be used with make -f.

If the tarball already ships with configure, just run that and make. If it does not, run ./autogen.sh or bootstrap(*). If that does not exist, use autoreconf instead.

(*) autogen/bootstrap: A convenience script added by developers that should just call autoreconf. Unfortunately there are some people that eschew autoreconf and unnecessarily call all the lowlevel commands themselves.

answered Sep 24 '22 14:09

user502515

Related questions
                            
                                How to use MPI_Irecv?
                            
                                Initializing member array in constructor initialization list (before C++11)
                            
                                Complex diamond issue: C++ virtual inheritance
                            
                                How to send a byte array to another process in C++
                            
                                Explicit specialization of friend function for a class template
                            
                                Qt findChild returning 0
                            
                                Accessing libraries written in OCaml and C++ from Ruby code
                            
                                C++ recursive type traits
                            
                                running a project in Dev c++
                            
                                C++ nontype template argument taking inherited class
                            
                                Borland Builder 5 c++ Strings can't index at 0
                            
                                Undefined reference to friend function in template class
                            
                                Abstract iterator for underlying collections
                            
                                Why doesn't g++ emit this constructor-related noexcept warning with `-fpic` enabled?
                            
                                Game laggs after injecting my code
                            
                                What is the specified behavior of including a standard C header, in C++ code, inside a linkage-specification (extern "C", extern "C++")?
                            
                                How does the CYK algorithm work?
                            
                                Is there a way to cast shared_ptr<void> to shared_ptr<T>?
                            
                                Why can't you do bitwise operations on pointer in C, and is there a way around this?
                            
                                Deprecate old name for class in C++

Donate For Us

If you love us? You can donate to us via Paypal or buy me a coffee so we can maintain and grow! Thank you!

Donate Us With