Company
Date Published
Author
Kasper Siig
Word count
1552
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

The article examines various methods for implementing Makefiles on Windows, highlighting the challenges and solutions available for developers accustomed to Linux environments. It discusses traditional tools like GNU Make, which remains popular for its efficiency in automating build processes, and alternative options such as Chocolatey, Cygwin, NMAKE, CMake, and the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Each tool offers unique advantages and limitations; for instance, Chocolatey simplifies installation, Cygwin provides a Linux-like interface, NMAKE requires porting of Makefiles, CMake generates build files across platforms, and WSL allows Linux to run natively on Windows. Despite these options, the article notes that none offer a seamless native Makefile experience on Windows, with WSL being the closest workaround. The discussion underscores the evolution of DevOps tools and the ongoing need for flexible, cross-platform solutions.