MakeFile in C++ and its applications

Difficulty Level : Easy
Last Updated : 02 Nov, 2018

Given a C++ program and the task is to break the entire program in the form of Makefile.
It is basically used to create .cpp file and .h file for each class/functions and its functionalities and later link them all through a Makefile command available in C++.

Advantages:

It makes codes more concise and clear to read and debug.
No need to compile entire program every time whenever you make a change to a functionality or a class. Makefile will automatically compile only those files where change has occurred.
Generally, in long codes or projects, Makefile is widely used in order to present project in more systematic and efficient way.

Example: Create a program to find the factorial and multiplication of numbers and print it.

Traditional Way

// Program to calculate factorial and
// multiplication of two numbers.
#include<bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
  
// Function to find factorial
int factorial(int n)
{
    if (n == 1)
        return 1;
    // Recursive Function to find 
    // factorial
    return n * factorial(n - 1);
}
  
// Function to multiply two numbers
int multiply(int a, int b)
{
    return a * b;
}
  
// Function to print
void print()
{
    cout << "makefile" << endl;
}
  
// Driver code
int main()
{
    int a = 1;
    int b = 2;
    cout << multiply(a, b) << endl;
    int fact = 5;
    cout << factorial(5) << endl;
    print();
    return 0;
}

Output:

2
120
makefile

Use Makefile to run the above program:

File Name: main.cpp

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
  
// Note function.h which has all functions
// definations has been included
#include "function.h"
  
using namespace std;
  
// Main program
int main()
{
    int num1 = 1;
    int num2 = 2;
    cout << multiply(num1, num2) << endl;
    int num3 = 5;
    cout << factorial(num3) << endl;
    print();
}

File Name: print.cpp
#include <bits/stdc++.h>

// Definition of print function is
// present in function.h file
#include "function.h"
using namespace std;

void print()
{
    cout < "makefile" << endl;
}

File Name: factorial.cpp

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
  
// Definition of factorial function
// is present in function.h file
#include "function.h"
using namespace std;
  
// Recursive factorial program
int factorial(int n)
{
    if (n == 1)
        return 1;
    return n * factorial(n - 1);
}

File Name: multiply.cpp
#include <bits/stdc++.h>

// Definition of multiply function
// is present in function.h file
#include "function.h"
using namespace std;

int multiply(int a, int b)
{
    return a * b;
}
File Name: functions.h
#ifndef FUNCTIONS_H
#define FUNCTIONS_H

void print();
int factorial(int);
int multiply(int, int);

#endif

Commands to Compile and Run above program:

Open Terminal and type commands:
g++ -c main.cpp
g++ -c print.cpp
g++ -c factorial.cpp
g++ -c multiply.cpp
g++ -o main main.o print.o factorial.o multiply.o
./main

Note: g++ -c filename.cpp is used to create object file.

makefile

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MakeFile in C++ and its applications