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@prwhite
Last active May 2, 2024 18:02
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Add a help target to a Makefile that will allow all targets to be self documenting
# Add the following 'help' target to your Makefile
# And add help text after each target name starting with '\#\#'
help: ## Show this help.
@fgrep -h "##" $(MAKEFILE_LIST) | fgrep -v fgrep | sed -e 's/\\$$//' | sed -e 's/##//'
# Everything below is an example
target00: ## This message will show up when typing 'make help'
@echo does nothing
target01: ## This message will also show up when typing 'make help'
@echo does something
# Remember that targets can have multiple entries (if your target specifications are very long, etc.)
target02: ## This message will show up too!!!
target02: target00 target01
@echo does even more
@chrissv
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chrissv commented Apr 4, 2024

Hi @chrissv, you can repeat the target twice. Once for the help comment and the other one for the list of dependencies. With your example:

app: ##@ Build the applications
app: $(APP_FILE2).exe $(APP_FILE2).exe

That's a great suggestion, thanks!

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