.emacs to bind "C-c c" to `make' in the directory with the nearest Makefile

.emacs

(require 'cl)
(defun* get-closest-file-dir (&optional (file "Makefile"))
  "Determine the directory of the first instance of FILE starting from the current directory towards root.
This may not do the correct thing in presence of links. If it does not find FILE, then it shall return nil."
  (let ((root (expand-file-name "/")))
    (loop 
     for d = default-directory then (expand-file-name ".." d)
       if (file-exists-p (expand-file-name file d)) return d
       if (equal d root) return nil)))

(require 'compile)
(add-hook 'c-mode-common-hook
          '(lambda ()
	     (define-key c-mode-base-map "\C-cc" 'compile)
	     (define-key c-mode-base-map "\C-ce" 'next-error)
	     (c-toggle-hungry-state 1)
             (c-set-style "linux")
	     (setq tab-width 8)
	     (if (equal compile-command "make -k ") ;; default
		 (set 'compile-command
		      (format "make -C %s " (get-closest-file-dir))))))