Most UNIX and Linux programs are built by running make. Make and utilities like it are fundamental tools for streamlining the application build process. Learn the structure of the makefile, how to avoid common mistakes in its creation, and how to solve or work around portability issues and other problems as they crop up.
Utilities like it are fundamental.
please remeber to look at this document before starting to use make:
http://aegis.sourceforge.net/auug97.pdf
bengt
Really quite excellent.