How to use makefiles in Visual Studio?

Question

I heard a lot about makefile and how it simplifies the compilation process. I`m using VS2008, can somebody please advice me some online references or books when I can find how to deal with it?

Answer 1

The VS equivalent of a makefile is a "Solution" (over-simplified, I know).

Answer 2

If you are asking about actual command line makefiles then you can export a makefile, or you can call MSBuild on a solution file from the command line. What exactly do you want to do with the makefile?

You can do a search on SO for MSBuild for more details.

Answer 3

A UNIX guy probably told you that. :)

You can use makefiles in VS, but when you do it bypasses all the built-in functionality in MSVC's IDE. Makefiles are basically the reinterpret_cast of the builder. IMO the simplest thing is just to use Solutions.

Answer 4

Makefiles and build files are about automating your build. If you use a script like MSBuild or NAnt, you can build your project or solution directly from command line. This in turn makes it possible to automate the build, have it run by a build server.

Besides building your solution it is typical that a build script includes task to run unit tests, report code coverage and complexity and more.

Answer 5

I actually use a makefile to build any dependencies needed before invoking devenv to build a particular project as in the following:

debug: coratools_debug
    devenv coralib.vcproj /build debug

coratools_debug: nothing
    cd ../coratools
    nmake debug
    cd $(MAKEDIR)

In my opinion, this is much easier than trying to figure out the overly complicated visual studio project management scheme.

Answer 6

The Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility (NMAKE.EXE) is a tool that builds projects based on commands contained in a description file.

NMAKE Reference