How to Install GNU Make on Windows 11

GNU Make is a build automation tool that is widely used in software development. Installing GNU Make on Windows 11 requires a few simple steps. This tutorial will guide you through the process step-by-step.

Step 1: Download the Binary

The first step is to download the binary file for GNU Make from the official website, http://www.gnu.org/software/make/.

1. Navigate to the website and click on the “Download” button.
2. Scroll down to “Binary releases” and select the appropriate file for your operating system. In this case, select “make-4.3-without-guile-w32.zip.”
3. Click on the link to download the file.

Step 2: Extract the Binary

Once the binary file is downloaded, you will need to extract it.

1. Navigate to the location where you downloaded the file.
2. Right-click on the file and select “Extract All."
3. Choose a location to extract the file to and click “Extract.”

Step 3: Copy the Binary to a Directory

Next, you will copy the extracted files to a directory. For the purposes of this tutorial, we will use the “Program Files” directory.

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the directory where you extracted the files.
2. Right-click on the “bin” folder and select "Copy."
3. Navigate to “C:\Program Files” and right-click on an empty space. Select "New" > "Folder" and name it “GNU Make.”
4. Right-click on the “GNU Make” folder and select "Paste." This will copy the “bin” folder into the “GNU Make” folder.

Step 4: Add GNU Make to the System Path

Once the binary is installed, you will need to add it to the system path.

1. Right-click on the Windows icon in the taskbar and select “Search."
2. Type “Environment Variables” and select “Edit the system environment variables.”
3. Click on “Environment Variables” at the bottom right of the “System Properties” window.
4. Under “System Variables,” scroll down and select “Path," then click "Edit."
5. Click "New" and enter “C:\Program Files\GNU Make\bin." Click "OK" to save.
6. Click "OK" to close the "Environment Variables" window.
7. Click “OK” again to close the "System Properties" window.

Step 5: Verify the Installation

You can verify the installation by opening a command prompt and typing “make -v”. This will display the version of GNU Make that you have installed.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed GNU Make on Windows 11.

If you want to self-host in an easy, hands free way, need an external IP address, or simply want your data in your own hands, give IPv6.rs a try!

Alternatively, for the best virtual desktop, try Shells!