Build Makefile

Q: What is a Claude Code skill and how does the Build Makefile skill fit in?

A Claude Code skill is a SKILL.md file that lives under ~/.claude/skills/<name>/ and tells the Claude Code CLI agent how to perform a specific task (instructions, prompts, allowed tools). Skills are auto-discovered at session start. Build Makefile is one of 67,000+ skills indexed in the open ClaudSkills catalog, classified under the General category. Learn more at https://claudskills.com/learn/what-is-skill-md/.

Category: General · Sub-category: general-misc · Last updated: 2026-06-15

type:generator

Scaffolds a top-level Makefile for repository workflow orchestration — strict-shell header, safety `MAKEFLAGS`, `.PHONY` coverage, self-documenting `help` from `## description` comments, overridable `?=` config, and a flat target graph with scoped `clean`. Use when the user wants to "create a makefile", "scaffold a makefile", or "new makefile for [X]". Not for POSIX-`make`, compilation-driving Makefiles, or multi-module recursive builds.

Security AStatic scan found no risk patternsHow grading works ›

About this skill (catalog notes)

Build Makefile includes at least one code block. At roughly 1,588 words the SKILL.md is on the longer end of the catalog distribution.

License: MIT
Original author: bcbeidel
Indexed lastmod: 2026-06-15
Catalog position: General · general-misc
Indexed related skills: 10

How Build Makefile fits the catalog

Build Makefile sits in the General category under the general-misc sub-topic in the ClaudSkills catalog. There are 10 related skills indexed alongside it; comparing a few before installing usually reveals which fits your workflow best.

Is Build Makefile safe to install?

A free static scan flagged 1 of ten categories (filesystem), including lower-severity patterns. Read the security scan below before installing — a pattern inside a code fence is weighted as an example, not an instruction.

Installing & verifying

Installing Build Makefile writes its SKILL.md to ~/.claude/skills/build-makefile/SKILL.md; Claude Code discovers it automatically on the next session — no restart flag needed. It declares no allowed-tools restriction, so it inherits your session’s existing tool access rather than narrowing it. To confirm it loaded, ask Claude to list its available skills — build-makefile should appear by name.

What Build Makefile needs to run

Worked code: 1 copy-paste code block in the body.
Depth: ~1,588 words, substantial — top of the catalog distribution.

When to reach for it

There are 10 related skills in General — a two-minute scan of the alternatives usually confirms whether Build Makefile is the right pick.

These notes are auto-generated from features detected in the SKILL.md file and from this catalog's structure — they aren't part of the source repository.

From the source SKILL.md

Scaffold a top-level Makefile that orchestrates developer workflows (build, test, lint, fmt, run, deploy, clean, ci) as a single source of truth shared by local developers and CI. The authoring rubric — anatomy, patterns that work, safety posture — lives in [makefile-best-practices.md](../../_shared/references/makefile-best-practices.md). This skill is the workflow; the principles doc is the rubric.

What this skill does

Build Makefile is a community-contributed Claude Code skill in the general-misc sub-category. It ships as a SKILL.md file that Claude Code auto-discovers under ~/.claude/skills/build-makefile/ and loads when your prompt matches the skill's trigger.

When to invoke it: Use when the user wants to "create a makefile", "scaffold a makefile", or "new makefile for [X]". Not for POSIX-`make`, compilation-driving Makefiles, or multi-module recursive builds.

Who uses this skill

The Build Makefile Claude Code skill is built for Claude Code users and developers across all disciplines looking for general-purpose AI assistance. It's part of ClaudSkills (also referred to as Claude Skills or Claude Code Skills) — the open community-curated registry of 178,000+ SKILL.md files for Anthropic's Claude Code agent and the wider Claude ecosystem (Claude API, Claude Agent SDK).

How to install

Free

Manual install (2 steps)

mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/build-makefile
curl -L https://claudskills.com/skills/build-makefile/SKILL.md \
  -o ~/.claude/skills/build-makefile/SKILL.md

Or just download SKILL.md directly and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/build-makefile/. Claude Code auto-discovers it on next session.

Skills live at ~/.claude/skills/build-makefile/SKILL.md on macOS/Linux, or %USERPROFILE%\.claude\skills\build-makefile\SKILL.md on Windows. See the full install guide for step-by-step instructions.

📱 Install from your phone or desktop Telegram

Open @claudskills_bot on Telegram, tap Open Desktop App, and the desktop app installs this skill for you. Or share the bot link with a colleague — they get the same one-tap install. Learn more →

Pro

One-click install via the desktop app

The ClaudSkills desktop app installs any skill directly into ~/.claude/skills/ with one click — no terminal required. Pro starts at $9/mo or $149 lifetime.

Pro

For the full experience including quality scoring and one-click install features for each skill — upgrade to Pro.

See pricing → Download desktop app

Frequently asked questions

How do I install the Build Makefile Claude Code skill?

Install via the ClaudSkills desktop app (one click) or copy SKILL.md from the source repository to ~/.claude/skills/build-makefile/SKILL.md and restart Claude Code. Both flows are detailed at claudskills.com/install/.

What does the Build Makefile skill do?

Is this skill free to install?

Yes. ClaudSkills is an open registry — every skill keeps its source repository's license, and manual install via copy is free. ClaudSkills Pro ($9/mo, $79/yr, or $149 one-time) adds one-click install via the desktop app and a multi-signal Quality Score.

When should I use the Build Makefile skill?

Use Build Makefile when your Claude Code task falls under the General category — specifically in the general misc area. Claude Code auto-discovers installed skills and invokes the right one based on the task description, so you can also ask Claude directly (e.g. "use Build Makefile" or describe the task and let Claude pick). Browse related skills at /category/general/.

What is a Claude Code skill and how does the Build Makefile skill fit in?

A Claude Code skill is a SKILL.md file that lives under ~/.claude/skills/<name>/ and tells the Claude Code CLI agent how to perform a specific task (instructions, prompts, allowed tools). Skills are auto-discovered at session start. Build Makefile is one of 67,000+ skills indexed in the open ClaudSkills catalog, classified under the General category. Learn more at /learn/what-is-a-claude-skill/.

Attribution & license

Source: https://github.com/bcbeidel/toolkit/blob/HEAD/plugins/build/skills/build-makefile/SKILL.md
License: MIT
Author: bcbeidel

Cite this skill

If you reference this skill in a blog post, paper, or documentation, you can cite it as:

APA

bcbeidel. (2026). Build Makefile [Claude Code skill]. ClaudSkills. https://claudskills.com/skills/build-makefile/

BibTeX

@misc{build-makefile-2026,
  author    = {bcbeidel},
  title     = {Build Makefile [Claude Code skill]},
  year      = {2026},
  publisher = {ClaudSkills},
  url       = {https://claudskills.com/skills/build-makefile/}
}

Embed this skill

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Badge

[![ClaudSkills](https://claudskills.com/badge/build-makefile.svg)](https://claudskills.com/skills/build-makefile/?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=skill_badge)

Security scan

Grade A · scanned 2026-08-08 — free static scan against the OWASP Agentic Skills Top 10.

The scan flagged 1 of 10 categories (filesystem), including lower-severity patterns. Patterns shown inside code fences are weighted as examples rather than instructions — read the grading methodology for what this does and does not guarantee.

✓ Prompt injection
✓ Data exfiltration
✓ Supply chain
✓ Reverse shell
✓ Credentials
✓ Execution
⚠ Filesystem
✓ Persistence
✓ Obfuscation
✓ Network

Show this grade on your repo (click to copy):

[![Security: A](https://img.shields.io/badge/Security-A-2e7d32)](https://claudskills.com/skills/build-makefile/#security)

More General skills

Browse all General skills in the ClaudSkills registry, or explore these other picks from the same category:

Browse all General skills → Top 100 skills

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