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mk — Task runner for targets described in Mkfile. Mostly used to control the compilation of an executable

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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taskmkcommanddescribedclitargetsrunnerfor

Problem

How to use the mk command: Task runner for targets described in Mkfile. Mostly used to control the compilation of an executable from source code. More information: <https://doc.cat-v.org/plan_9/4th_edition/papers/mk>.

Solution

mk — Task runner for targets described in Mkfile. Mostly used to control the compilation of an executable from source code. More information: <https://doc.cat-v.org/plan_9/4th_edition/papers/mk>.

Call the first target specified in the Mkfile (usually named "all"):

mk

Call a specific target:

mk {{target}}

Call a specific target, executing 4 jobs at a time in parallel:

NPROC=4 mk {{target}}

Force mking of a target, even if source files are unchanged:

mk -w{{target}} {{target}}

Assume all targets to be out of date. Thus, update target and all of its dependencies:

mk -a {{target}}

Keep going as far as possible on error:

mk -k

Code Snippets

Call the first target specified in the Mkfile (usually named "all")

mk

Call a specific target

mk {{target}}

Call a specific target, executing 4 jobs at a time in parallel

NPROC=4 mk {{target}}

Force mking of a target, even if source files are unchanged

mk -w{{target}} {{target}}

Assume all targets to be out of date. Thus, update `target` and all of its dependencies

mk -a {{target}}

Context

tldr-pages: common/mk

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