Changelog:

  • 26 Jan 2023: make link to make-lab.tar match wget command

This lab is designed to help you feel comfortable using GNU Make, one of the oldest and still most-common build tools; as well as with many-file C projects.

Your task:

We would recommend working with a partner, but it is also fine if you do this alone.

  1. Download make-lab.tar (you can do this using the link on this page, or from a command line via wget https://www.cs.virginia.edu/~cr4bd/3130/S2023/files/make-lab.tar)

  2. Expand it using tar xvf make-lab.tar

  3. Read enough of the files to get an idea what they do. Then build them with clang *.c and run ./a.out to verify your understanding. Ask a TA for help if you are not sure you fully understand.

  4. Add a Makefile in the resulting make-lab directory, which

    • has targets for the following
      • build each .c file into a .o file
      • combine cheer.o and grunt.o into a library (either libsay.a or libsay.so)
      • combine the library and guesser.o into program guesser
    • has CC, CFLAGS, and LDFLAGS we can edit
    • make all creates guesser and its dependencies
    • make clean deletes all files that make can recreate
    • editing say.h causes all files to be rebuilt
    • editing any .c file causes its .o file to be rebuilt, along with the library and/or program if they depend on the .c file
      • Note: if you chose library format libsay.a, then guesser should be rebuilt if libsay.a changes; but if you chose library format libsay.so, then guesser should not be rebuilt if libsay.so changes, only if say.h or guesser.c change.
  5. Either:

    • Place a comment (line starting with #) at the top of your Makefile indicating who you worked with and submit your Makefile to the submission site. (If working with a partner, both must submit.) and/or
    • Show a TA your Makefile. They may ask you to show it working, or to look at its contents, or both.

Refer to the makefiles and C compilation reading and/or the corresponding C material for information on how to achieve these goals. We recommend you read it in full, discussing it with a partner and asking clarifying questions of TAs as you go, then return to the tasks above.