mgen/README.md

# mgen

Makefile generator for C projects.

## Overview

`mgen` automatically generates build rules for all source files (extension `.c`)
it finds in a recursive search of the directory in which it is run. It places
the rules in your existing makefile, meaning you can easily change build options
and even write your own rules based on those generated.

`mgen` will place the generated rules between the strings "`#=mgen_start=#`" and
"`#=mgen_end=#`" in your makefile. If these lines are not present, it will add
them to the end of the file and place the rules there. Anything not between
these lines will not be touched by `mgen`.

`mgen` utilizes certain common make variables when generating the build rules.
These are:

 - CC      -> C compiler
 - CFLAGS  -> compilation flags
 - LDLIBS  -> linker libraries
 - LDFLAGS -> linker flags
 - TARGET  -> name of final executable/library

It is therefore recommended that you set these at the beginning of your
makefile, unless you want to use the `make` defaults.

`mgen`'s rules will place all compiled files in the `BUILD_DIR` specified on the
command line (see *Usage* section of this README). Objects will be placed in the
directory `BUILD_DIR/obj/`, and the `TARGET` will be placed at
`BUILD_DIR/$(TARGET)`.

## Why use this tool?

`mgen` offers distinct advantages over other, more complex build systems. These
include:

1. **Simplicity.** There are no special languages to learn, extra configuration
   files, and countless features that you won't ever use. Of course, if you need
   those things, there are other options available; that is not the space `mgen`
   intends to occupy.
1. **Extensibility.** Because `mgen` adds to your existing makefile, you can
   write your own build rules in a language you already know: make. Your custom
   rules can use the ones generated by `mgen`, or you can just use the generated
   ones; it's up to you, `mgen` gives you that option.
1. **Portability.** Once the makefile is generated, it can be run on any machine
   that runs `make`. Your users do not have to have `mgen` to compile your
   program, they can just use the generated makefile.

## Usage

```
$ mgen --help
Usage: mgen [OPTIONS] [BUILD_DIR]

Arguments:
  [BUILD_DIR]  Directory to place build files [default: ./build]

Options:
  -p, --pretty               Replace default make output with nice build messages
  -m, --makefile <MAKEFILE>  Path to makefile [default: ./Makefile]
  -h, --help                 Print help
```

Starting from a "blank slate," i.e. you have no build system configured in your
project, simply run `mgen` in the root directory and then run `make`. It's as
easy as that.

If you already have a makefile in use, remove any rules to build the target or
object files (that what `mgen` is for). You can keep any other, more complex
rules that depend on these things, though. Then, run `mgen` and `make` and you
are good to go.

## Build Instructions

Build: `cargo build --release`

Install (must build first) (needs root): `sh install.sh`

Uninstall (needs root): `sh uninstall.sh`

## Todo

- Add functionality to generate rules to build a library, as opposed to an
  executable.
- Add options to generate convenient rules like `clean` to remove all build
  files, `run` to execute the target, etc.
- Don't create new makefile if no `.c` files are found.
- Add exclude directory(ies) from search
- Eventually: write man page.
- Maybe: allow build directory to be specified within the Makefile ?
- Maybe: figure out a way to only have the user run `mgen` once, then the
  makefile itself will call it again if it needs to be regenerated due to a
  change in project structure ?