gnatmake

Gnatmake is a build driver in the GNAT Ada compiler toolchain that automates the compilation and linking of Ada programs. It takes Ada source files (and, in some configurations, project information) as input and orchestrates the compilation order by inspecting unit dependencies, ultimately producing an executable. Gnatmake is designed to simplify the typical Ada build process by handling the necessary calls to the underlying GNAT compilers and linkers and by reusing previously built units when possible.

Key features include automatic dependency resolution, incremental builds, and the ability to incorporate non-Ada sources through GNAT’s inter-language capabilities. The tool is intended for straightforward, end-to-end compilation of Ada applications, and it provides diagnostics from the compiler and linker to help identify errors and issues in the build.

In practice, gnatmake is commonly used for small to medium-sized Ada projects or for quick ad hoc builds during development. For larger projects that require explicit project management, the GNAT project manager tool (gprbuild) and .gpr project files are often preferred, though gnatmake remains available for users who want a simpler, Makefile-like workflow or a quick single-command build.

Typical usage involves invoking gnatmake with one or more Ada sources; it then compiles the units in the correct order and links them into an executable, with the output name typically determined by the main unit unless overridden by options. The tool runs on platforms supported by the GNAT toolchain, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, and is maintained as part of GNAT releases.