make [target | option | macro | @response] ...
Options are indicated by a "-" or "/" followed by a single letter, which is the option name.
Macros are macro definitions of the form name=[value]. Macros defined on the command line take precedence over macros defined in the makefile.
Targets are named targets to be built. If no command-line targets are listed the first target in the first makefile is made.
@response directs Make to read response file for additional options, macros, targets and response files.
Initial Options:
Before parsing the command line Make looks for the OPUSMAKEOPTS environment variable and, if it is found, its value is parsed as an initial command line.
Current Options:
After reading its initialization file, Make places the command-line options in a macro called MFLAGS. The state of each command-line option is also kept in a State Macro.
| Option | Action |
| -a | The command-line targets (or default target) are updated whether or not they need updating. |
| -A | Automatic dependencies are enabled. |
| -b file | Names file as the built-ins initialization file (the default is make.ini). |
| -d | Run-time debugging of Make operation displays targets being made. |
| -D | Keep-directory mode. The first access of a directory to look for a file results in the directory being read into memory and kept. |
| -e | Environment macros prevail over the makefile definition |
| -E N | Emulate NMAKE. |
| -E O | Emulate Opus Make (the default). |
| -E P | Emulate PolyMake / PVCS Configuration Builder. |
| -E 2 | Emulate Opus Make v5.2x |
| -f file | Specify file as the makefile. May be repeated. If file is "-" the console is read. |
| -h | Display the list of command-line options. |
| -i | Ignore errors. The non-zero exit status from any shell lines is ignored. |
| -k | Keep working. Any errors when updating a target cause work on that target only to be stopped. |
| -m | Use the memory miser. (MSDOS only) |
| -M | Make the makefile before reading it. |
| -n | No execute. Display but do not execute the shell lines. |
| -nologo | Inhibit display of Opus Make banner. |
| -p | Print debugging information to screen. |
| -q | Query mode. Make returns exit status 0 if there is nothing to update. |
| -r | Reject inference rules that are built into Make and that are defined in the initialization file. |
| -s | Silent mode. Shell lines are not displayed before execution. |
| -t | Touch out-of-date targets, setting their timestamp to the current time. |
| -T | Like "-t", but creates target files of zero length if they do not exist yet. |
| -V | Print out the Make banner and version then quit. |
| -x file | Redirect error messages into file. If file is "-" the error messages are redirected to the screen. |
| -z | The MFLAGS macro is not examined for options. |
| -# 1 | Debugging option. Read-time debugging mode. |
| -# 2 | Debugging option. Warn about undefined macros. |
| -# 4 | Debugging option. Warn about unrecognized makefile lines. |
| -# 8 | Debugging option. Leave behind generated response and batch files. |