GNU Make and Makefile for your Embedded C Project from Udemy

Do you need to automate the build procedure of your project? Do you want to know what is going on behind the fancy user interface IDEs (like Eclipse ...) and how it build your project? Do you need to have better control over the compilation procedures of your embedded c sources?, then the Make and MakeFile is the answer for all those questions and concerns.

Make is a build tool allowing the automation of the build procedure of your project at larger scale, make used widely for embedded C projects (C sources) as well as C++ projects.

What are you going to get from this course?

This course will help you to:

Make your first steps with makefile syntaxes, keywords and concepts.
Learn how to deploy make tool as part of build System Architecture
Understand the mapping between your projects sources and makefile rules/list of dependencies
Create your first embedded system structure
Write your first makefile for this project: rules, functions, variables ...
Identify the dependencies to external environment in term of required packages and tools (cygwin, mingw, toolchain ...)
Execute your makefile to build your project
Identify issues within makefile used syntaxes, then fix them to get a working makefile build procedure

It is not only about make as build tool, it is about building full ecosystem on larger scale for your make based build system.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Get to know makefile keywords and syntax
Develop your first makefile project

Identify issues within makefile and how to debug them
Setup your environment to run your makefile project

Get to know makefile keywords and syntax
Develop your first makefile project
Identify issues within makefile and how to debug them
Setup your environment to run your makefile project

Syllabus

Introduction

Overview

Added Value

MakeFile Fundamentals Concepts and Syntax

Project Source Files Structuring

MakeFile Rules

MakeFile Rules Structure 1

MakeFile Rules Structure 2

MakeFile Magic Keywords and Syntax

MakeFile Conditions

MakeFile Pattern Substitution

MakeFile Command Prefix

MakeFile Filtering

MakeFile Inclusion

MakeFile Supported Options

MakeFile PHONY Keyword

MaekFile as Build System

MakeFile Important Features

MakeFile Parallelism

MakeFile Recursion

MakeFile Inclusion Concept

MakeFile Build System Deployment

MakeFile Build System Summary

Install Packages and Tool required to run your first makefile project

Install Make Build Tool Package

Install Cygwin64 Tools Package

Install Armgcc Toolchain Package

Setup Windows Environment Variables

Your First MakeFile Project

Project Structure

Project Source Files Example Code

MakeFile Coding: Create MakeFile Coding Structure

MakeFile Coding: External Tools Dependencies

MakeFile Coding: Functions Abstraction Example

MakeFile Coding: Directories Paths as Variables

MakeFile Coding: Creation of the List of Source Files

MakeFile Coding: Creation of the List of Objects Files

MakeFile Coding: Creation of List of Headers Files Dependencies

MakeFile Coding: Defining The List of Compiler/Linker Flags

MakeFile Variables Assignment

MakeFile Coding: Writing the First Entry and Cleanup MakeFile Rules

MakeFile Coding: Writing Objects/ELF MakeFile Rules

MakeFile Coding: Running and Fixing MakeFile Errors

We will enhance our written makefile for better optimization and structuring as well as confirming some of the makefile concepts we have learnt before

Prove of Concept: Incremental Build

Prove of Concept: Parallel Build

MakeFile Improvement: Inclusion

MakeFile Improvement: Macro Defines

Summary of what we have learnt through this course, hint to the elements (project example and links provided with this course), as well as what we should look for to enhance what we learnt

The makefile project we developed within this course is attached as a zip format in this session

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers Makefiles, which are essential for managing the compilation process in embedded C projects, offering greater control than IDEs

Explores the deployment of the Make tool as part of a larger build system architecture, which is crucial for efficient project management

Requires installing specific packages and tools like Cygwin64 and Armgcc Toolchain, which may present a barrier for some learners

Teaches how to identify and fix issues within Makefiles, a practical skill for debugging and maintaining build procedures

Focuses on building a full ecosystem for a Make-based build system, which is valuable for large-scale embedded projects

Includes a project example and links, which can help learners enhance their understanding and apply the concepts learned

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in GNU Make and Makefile for your Embedded C Project with these activities:

Review C Programming Fundamentals

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Reviewing C programming fundamentals will help you better understand the C code compilation process and how Makefiles automate it.

Browse courses on C Programming

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Review basic C syntax and data types.
Practice writing simple C programs.
Study memory management concepts in C.

Read 'Managing Projects with GNU Make'

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Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of GNU Make and its capabilities, enhancing your ability to create efficient and maintainable Makefiles.

View Managing Projects with GNU Make: The Power of... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Managing Projects with GNU Make'.
Read the chapters relevant to your project's complexity.
Experiment with the advanced features discussed in the book.

Create a Makefile for a Simple Embedded Project

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Starting a project will allow you to apply the concepts learned in the course and gain practical experience in writing Makefiles for embedded systems.

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Choose a simple embedded project (e.g., blinking an LED).
Create a basic Makefile to compile and link the project.
Test the Makefile and debug any errors.

Four other activities

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Practice Makefile Debugging

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Practicing debugging common Makefile errors will improve your troubleshooting skills and make you more proficient in using Make.

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Introduce errors into a working Makefile.
Use Make's debugging features to identify and fix the errors.
Repeat with different types of errors.

Contribute to an Open Source Project's Build System

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Contributing to an open-source project will expose you to real-world Makefile implementations and best practices.

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Find an open-source project that uses Makefiles.
Identify areas where you can improve the build system.
Submit your changes as a pull request.

Write a Blog Post on Makefile Best Practices

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Writing a blog post will help you solidify your understanding of Makefiles and share your knowledge with others.

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Research Makefile best practices.
Write a clear and concise blog post explaining the best practices.
Publish the blog post on a relevant platform.

Read 'Autotools: A Practitioner's Guide to GNU Build Tools'

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Reading this book will provide a broader understanding of build systems and how Makefiles fit into the larger picture.

View Autotools, 2nd Edition: A Practitioner's Guide... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Autotools: A Practitioner's Guide to GNU Build Tools'.
Read the chapters relevant to your project's complexity.
Understand how Autotools can generate Makefiles.

Career center

Learners who complete GNU Make and Makefile for your Embedded C Project will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Embedded Software Engineer

An Embedded Software Engineer develops software for embedded systems, frequently working with C and C++. This role involves a deep understanding of how to manage the compilation and build process, a task for which this course on Makefiles is exceptionally relevant. In particular this course provides insight into how to structure projects and manage dependencies, which are vital for embedded projects. The skills in this course, such as defining compiler and linker flags and creating lists of source files, directly support the build process managed by an Embedded Software Engineer. Developing the ability to fix Makefile errors also ensures smooth build procedures in everyday working situations. Anyone aspiring to this role would greatly benefit from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Software Engineer

Build Engineer

A Build Engineer is responsible for managing and automating the software build process. This position requires an understanding of build tools, such as Make, and build system architecture. This course introduces these core concepts, which are essential for creating reliable and efficient build systems. By learning how to deploy Make as part of a build system and how to create and execute Makefiles, someone studying to be a Build Engineer will be able to better structure and manage build processes. Furthermore, the knowledge of how to identify and fix issues within Makefiles allows for creating reliable build procedures. This course allows learners to develop vital skills for this profession.

See salaries and explore the career path for Build Engineer

Firmware Engineer

A Firmware Engineer develops low-level software that interacts directly with hardware. This frequently involves building projects using embedded C with automated build processes controlled by Makefiles. The topics covered in this course on creating Makefiles, managing dependencies, and defining compiler flags are essential for someone entering this position. A Firmware Engineer using this course will gain crucial skills in structuring projects and building executable images, which are fundamental to their daily tasks. This course will help them write their first Makefiles, as well as learn how to improve and optimize Makefiles for better structure and performance.

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Systems Engineer

A Systems Engineer works with the integration of hardware and software components. Part of this position involves understanding build systems, for which knowledge of Makefiles is useful. This course helps a Systems Engineer learn to automate build procedures, manage project sources and dependencies, and better understand how to structure a build system. The practical skills gained through this course, such as writing Makefiles, identifying and fixing build issues, and setting up development environments, would prove essential to a Systems Engineer in their everyday tasks. Anyone entering this line of work will find this course to be a great help.

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Software Developer

A Software Developer creates and maintains software applications. While not all software development involves Makefiles, this course can help build a foundation for developers to learn more about build automation and how code dependencies interact with the build system. The knowledge of Makefiles can assist in streamlining project builds. This course will help a Software Developer understand the underlying build process, particularly when working on projects that involve C or C++. This knowledge gained in this course may help developers troubleshoot build issues as they arise. Those in software development who wish to better understand the software build process should consider this class.

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Robotics Engineer

A Robotics Engineer designs, builds, and maintains robots, many of which rely on embedded systems. This course provides background on how to automate builds and manage the compilation of the C-based code often used in robotic systems. A Robotics Engineer will be able to leverage this understanding of Makefiles to ensure that their embedded software builds smoothly and efficiently. The course's focus on structuring projects, managing dependencies, and debugging build issues is valuable for a Robotics Engineer who needs to maintain robust and well-organized software for robots. Anyone interested in developing robots could find this course useful.

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Automation Engineer

An Automation Engineer develops systems that automate different tasks. This can involve software, hardware, and industrial control systems. While this course focuses on automating the build process, the principles of automation can be applied in this role. Through learning how Makefiles automate compilation, an Automation Engineer will be able to better grasp other topics in automation. Furthermore, the skills in project structuring and dependency management, taught in this course can help when designing automation systems. Those in automation who wish to better understand build automation may find this course useful.

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Computer Engineer

A Computer Engineer designs and develops computer hardware and software. This course on Makefiles may be helpful to learn more about the build process of embedded systems. While Computer Engineers span a broad area of subjects, a deep knowledge of how software interacts with hardware requires a knowledge of the build process, which this course covers. The curriculum is particularly relevant when working on embedded C projects. A Computer Engineer may also build other types of projects, and the foundational knowledge in this course may apply more broadly. This course might be useful to those looking to better understand build automation.

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DevOps Engineer

A DevOps Engineer specializes in streamlining the software development process, focusing on automation and efficiency. While this role often interacts with many technologies, the concepts of build automation that this class covers remain useful. This course helps a DevOps Engineer understand the fundamentals of build systems using Make and Makefiles. This class would help a DevOps Engineer establish a foundation in areas that are useful when building continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines. This class may be useful for those interested in DevOps careers.

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System Administrator

A System Administrator is responsible for maintaining and managing computer systems and networks. While this role does not directly involve Makefiles on a regular basis, a basic understanding of build processes can be useful. This course introduces concepts in build systems that a System Administrator may be able to apply. It may enable a System Administrator to better understand software installations and configurations. This course may be useful to a system administrator looking to learn more about the software development lifecycle.

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Technical Project Manager

A Technical Project Manager oversees projects that involve technical teams. While they do not typically engage directly with Makefiles, familiarity with the tools and processes used by their team can be beneficial. This course can help a Technical Project Manager better understand the software build process, specifically in the context of embedded systems. This course would give a project manager insight into the challenges and requirements related to build systems. This course may be useful for those interested in understanding the work of developers they manage

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Quality Assurance Engineer

A Quality Assurance Engineer ensures software quality through testing and evaluation. While this course is not directly related to software testing, it may provide a foundation in learning about build processes of projects which they will be testing. This can help a Quality Assurance Engineer better understand the steps involved in software development. This understanding of build systems may be valuable to a Quality Assurance Engineer. Those interested in software quality who would like to broaden their knowledge might find this course useful.

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Technical Support Specialist

A Technical Support Specialist provides technical assistance to users of software and hardware. While this position does not directly work with Makefiles, understanding how software is built can be beneficial. This course on Makefiles may help a Technical Support Specialist better understand the underlying technical aspects of software. This class does provide insight into how C and C++ projects are built that may be helpful to a technical support specialist. As a result, a Technical Support Specialist may find this course somewhat useful.

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Educator

An Educator who teaches software or embedded systems concepts may find this course helpful for their lesson planning. While not all educators deal with Makefiles directly, having knowledge of how to build embedded projects can help with the delivery of course material. This course would provide an Educator with more tools to help their students learn embedded software development. The Educator can utilize the materials in this course to better teach embedded software concepts. Those in education may find this course useful.

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Sales Engineer

A Sales Engineer uses technical knowledge to sell products or services. They must understand a product's technical functionality, and a course on Makefiles, while not directly related to sales, may offer insights into software development and the embedded software world. This course may give a Sales Engineer a basic understanding of how products are developed that are built using Makefiles. The information in this course may equip a Sales Engineer with knowledge of technical workflows in the embedded software space. This course may be useful to sales engineers looking to understand the software development aspects of their products.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in GNU Make and Makefile for your Embedded C Project.

Managing Projects with GNU Make

Save

Provides a comprehensive guide to using GNU Make for managing software projects. It covers advanced topics such as conditional execution, pattern rules, and macro functions. It valuable resource for understanding the full potential of Makefiles and how to use them effectively in complex projects. This book is often used by industry professionals.

Managing Projects with GNU Make: The Power of GNU...

Paperback

Autotools, 2nd Edition

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Provides a comprehensive guide to using Autotools, a suite of tools used to create portable build systems for software projects. While this course focuses on Makefiles directly, understanding Autotools can provide valuable context on how Makefiles are often generated and managed in larger projects. This book is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference.

Autotools, 2nd Edition: A Practitioner's Guide to...

Kindle Edition

GNU Make and Makefile for your Embedded C Project

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

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