What is the difference between gmake and make?

Question

I am trying to understand the difference between \'gmake\' and \'make\'?

On my linux box they are identical:

% gmake --version
GNU Make 3.81
Copyri         


        

Answer 1

'gmake' refers specifically to GNU make. 'make' refers to the system's default make implementation; on most Linux distros this is GNU make, but on other unixes, it could refer to some other implementation of make, such as BSD make, or the make implementations of various commercial unixes.

The language accepted by GNU make is a superset of the one supported by the traditional make utility.

By using 'gmake' specifically you can use GNU make extensions without worrying about them being misinterpreted by some other make implementation.