When working with Makefiles in Unix or Linux, you might encounter the error message: **”make: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.”** This error typically occurs when you try to run the make command, but make is unable to find a Makefile or doesn’t know what to build. This guide will explain why this error occurs and how to resolve it.

What Is a Makefile?

A Makefile is a file that contains instructions for make, a build automation tool used to compile and build software programs. The Makefile tells make how to build your project by specifying the dependencies, the compilation steps, and other tasks.

The make command looks for a Makefile (or a similar file like makefile) in the current directory to know what it needs to do.

Why Does the Error Occur?

The error message **”make: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.”** usually occurs for one of the following reasons:

• The Makefile is missing or not in the current directory.
• The Makefile is present, but it has a different name, and make doesn’t recognize it.
• You’re in the wrong directory and not in the directory where the Makefile is located.
• The Makefile is incorrectly written, missing valid targets.

Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix the Error

Step 1: Ensure You’re in the Correct Directory

The make command looks for a Makefile in the current directory. If you are running make from the wrong directory, make will not be able to find the Makefile and will throw the error.

1. Navigate to the directory where your Makefile is located:

   cd /path/to/project/directory

2. List the files in the directory to check if the Makefile is present:

   ls

Make sure the Makefile is in the directory you’re working from.

Step 2: Check for the Presence of a Makefile

Ensure that the Makefile exists in the directory. By default, make looks for a file named Makefile or makefile.

1. List all files in the directory:

   ls -l

If you don’t see a file named Makefile or makefile, you may need to check if it’s named something else (e.g., Makefile.txt) or not present.

Step 3: Specify the Correct Makefile Name

If your Makefile has a different name (e.g., Makefile.txt or my_makefile), you can specify the file manually using the -f option:

1. Run the make command with the specific Makefile name:

   make -f Makefile.txt

2. If your Makefile is named something unique, such as custom_makefile:

   make -f custom_makefile

This will tell make to use the specified file instead of looking for a default Makefile.

Step 4: Verify the Makefile’s Contents

If you have a Makefile but are still getting the error, it’s possible that the Makefile is missing valid targets or instructions.

1. Open the Makefile to inspect its contents:

   cat Makefile

2. Ensure the Makefile contains at least one target and command. A simple example of a valid Makefile looks like this:

   all:
       gcc -o myprogram myprogram.c

In this example:

• all is the target, which make will look for.
• The command gcc -o myprogram myprogram.c tells make how to compile the program.

If no valid targets are present, you’ll need to modify the Makefile to include them.

Step 5: Create a Simple Makefile

If you don’t have a Makefile and need to create one, follow these steps to create a basic example.

1. Open a text editor and create a new file named Makefile:

   nano Makefile

2. Add the following content to the file:

   all:
       echo "Hello, Makefile!"

3. Save and close the file (Ctrl + O to save, then Ctrl + X to exit).
4. Now run make:

   make

This should print “Hello, Makefile!” to the terminal, confirming that make is working correctly.

Step 6: Install make (If It’s Not Installed)

If you’re getting the error because the make command isn’t installed, you’ll need to install it.

1. For Debian-based distributions (e.g., Ubuntu), install make using:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install make

2. For Red Hat-based distributions (e.g., CentOS, Fedora):

   sudo yum install make

3. For Arch-based distributions:

   sudo pacman -S make

Once installed, rerun the make command.

Conclusion

The **”make: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.”** error is typically caused by make being unable to locate the Makefile or by the Makefile lacking valid targets. By ensuring you’re in the correct directory, confirming that the Makefile is present, and specifying it if necessary, you can resolve this error quickly. Additionally, if you’re creating a Makefile from scratch, make sure it contains valid targets and commands so that make can execute them properly.

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Eric Sandler

Chief Writer at WiFi Planet

Eric Sandler is a veteran US tech writer with over 25 years of experience covering the latest advancements in the world of technology. From groundbreaking innovations to in-depth reviews, Eric has built a reputation for delivering insightful, reliable content. His work spans across a variety of tech topics, including smartphones, gadgets, AI, and more, making him a trusted voice in the industry.

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