NMakefiles

NMakefiles are configuration files used by the NMake utility, a build automation tool primarily associated with Microsoft's Visual Studio development environment. NMake is similar in concept to other build systems like Make, which originated in the Unix world. NMakefiles specify dependencies between source files and other components of a software project, along with the commands required to compile, link, and build the final executable or library.

The structure of an NMakefile typically involves defining targets, which are the files to be created (e.g., an executable). Each target is associated with a set of prerequisites, which are the files or other targets that must exist or be up-to-date before the target can be built. Finally, NMakefiles define the commands, often compiler or linker invocations, that are executed to transform the prerequisites into the target. Macros can also be defined and used within NMakefiles to represent common strings or command-line options, promoting reusability and easier maintenance of the build process. NMake reads an NMakefile to determine the correct order of operations and execute the necessary commands to build the project efficiently, recompiling only those parts that have changed since the last build.