March 8, 2003
cheatmake
1

# `cheatmake`

fool `make` into not rebuilding certain files

    cheatmake

    hidechange file
    show
    why file

## Description

`cheatmake` is used to save time when recompiling. It can fool make into skipping files that haven't changed in a meaningful way. This can be used for instance when you change a comment in a file but none of the actual code.

This utility is part of the &kde; Software Development Kit.

## Options

`hidechange` file

  Hides the fact that file was changed by setting the timestamp into the past. Use with care!

`show`

  Lists what files `make` currently needs to rebuild

`why` file

  Explains why make must rebuild file

## Environment

One of the following variables (but not both) should be set if the source directory is different from the build directory. If the build directory is simply a subdirectory of the source directory, the simpler variable `OBJ_SUBDIR` should be used.

`OBJ_SUBJDIR`

  Indicates that the build directory is in the given subdirectory of the source directory. For instance, if the source directory is `kdesdk` and the build directory is `kdesdk/obj-i386-linux`, then `OBJ_SUBDIR` should be set to `obj-i386-linux`.

`OBJ_REPLACEMENT`

  A `sed` expression that is used to transform the source directory into the build directory. For instance, if the source directory is `kdesdk/obj-i386-linux`, then `OBJ_REPLACEMENT` should be set to `s#kdesdk#kdesdk-obj#`.

## See Also

make(1)

## Authors

`cheatmake` was written by &David.Faure; &David.Faure.mail;. This manual page was prepared by Ben Burton bab@debian.org for the Debian GNU/&Linux; system (but may be used by others).