---
name: "make.conf"
section: "5"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/make.conf"
---

# make.conf(5)

system build information

## NAME

**make.conf** – system build information

## DESCRIPTION

The file **make.conf** contains system-wide settings that will apply to every build using [make(1)](/make/1.md) and the standard *sys.mk* file. This is achieved as follows: [make(1)](/make/1.md) processes the system makefile *sys.mk* before any other file by default, and *sys.mk* includes **make.conf**.

The file **make.conf** uses the standard makefile syntax. However, **make.conf** should not specify any dependencies to [make(1)](/make/1.md). Instead, **make.conf** is to set [make(1)](/make/1.md) variables that control the actions of other makefiles.

The default location of **make.conf** is */etc/make.conf*, though an alternative location can be specified in the [make(1)](/make/1.md) variable *\_\_MAKE\_CONF*. You may need to override the location of **make.conf** if the system-wide settings are not suitable for a particular build. For instance, setting *\_\_MAKE\_CONF* to */dev/null* effectively resets all build controls to their defaults.

The primary purpose of **make.conf** is to control the compilation of the FreeBSD sources, documentation, and ported applications, which are usually found in */usr/src*, */usr/doc*, and */usr/ports*. As a rule, the system administrator creates **make.conf** when the values of certain control variables need to be changed from their defaults.

The system build procedures occur in four broad areas: the world, the kernel, documentation and ports. Variables set in **make.conf** may be applicable in one, two, or all four of these areas. In addition, control variables can be specified for a particular build via the **-D** option of [make(1)](/make/1.md) or in [environ(7)](/environ/7.md). In the case of world and kernel builds it is possible to put these variables into [src.conf(5)](/src.conf/5.md) instead of **make.conf**. This way the environment for documentation and ports builds is not polluted by unrelated variables.

The following lists provide a name and short description for each variable you can use during the indicated builds. The values of variables flagged as *bool* are ignored; the variable being set at all (even to “FALSE” or “NO”) causes it to be treated as if it were set.

The following list provides a name and short description for variables that are used for all builds, or are used by the *makefiles* for things other than builds.

- *ALWAYS\_CHECK\_MAKE*

  (*bool*) Instructs the top-level makefile in the source tree (normally */usr/src*) to always check if [make(1)](/make/1.md) is up-to-date. Normally this is only done for the world and buildworld targets to handle upgrades from older versions of FreeBSD.

- *CFLAGS*

  (*str*) Controls the compiler setting when compiling C code. Optimization levels other than **-O** and **-O2** are not supported.

- *CPUTYPE*

  (*str*) Controls which processor should be targeted for generated code. This controls processor-specific optimizations in certain code (currently only OpenSSL) as well as modifying the value of *CFLAGS* and *COPTFLAGS* to contain the appropriate optimization directive to [cc(1)](/cc/1.md). To set the *CPUTYPE* value, use “?=” instead of “=” so that it can be overridden by [make(1)](/make/1.md) targets. The automatic setting of *CFLAGS* may be overridden using the *NO\_CPU\_CFLAGS* variable. Refer to */usr/share/examples/etc/make.conf* for a list of recognized *CPUTYPE* options.

- *CXXFLAGS*

  (*str*) Controls the compiler settings when compiling C++ code. *CXXFLAGS* is initially set to the value of *CFLAGS*. If you want to add to the *CXXFLAGS* value, use “+=” instead of “=”.

- *DTC*

  (*str*) Select the compiler for DTS (Device Tree Syntax) file. *DTC* is initially set to the value of dtc

- *INSTALL*

  (*str*) the default install command. To install only files for which the target differs or does not exist, use

  ```
  INSTALL+= -C
  ```

  Note that some makefiles (including those in */usr/share/mk*) may hardcode options for the supplied install command.

- *LOCAL\_DIRS*

  (*str*) List any directories that should be entered when doing make's in */usr/src* in this variable.

- *MAKE\_SHELL*

  (*str*) Controls the shell used internally by [make(1)](/make/1.md) to process the command scripts in makefiles. [sh(1)](/sh/1.md), [ksh(1)](/ksh/1.md), and [csh(1)](/csh/1.md) all currently supported.

  ```
  MAKE_SHELL?=sh
  ```

- *MTREE\_FOLLOWS\_SYMLINKS*

  (*str*) Set this to “**-L**” to cause [mtree(8)](/mtree/8.md) to follow symlinks.

- *NO\_CPU\_CFLAGS*

  (*str*) Setting this variable will prevent CPU specific compiler flags from being automatically added to *CFLAGS* during compile time.

### BUILDING THE KERNEL

The following list provides a name and short description for variables that are only used doing a kernel build:

- *BOOTWAIT*

  (*int*) Controls the amount of time the kernel waits for a console keypress before booting the default kernel. The value is approximately milliseconds. Keypresses are accepted by the BIOS before booting from disk, making it possible to give custom boot parameters even when this is set to 0.

- *COPTFLAGS*

  (*str*) Controls the compiler settings when building the kernel. Optimization levels above \[**-O** ( **-O2**, ...)\] are not guaranteed to work.

- *KERNCONF*

  (*str*) Controls which kernel configurations will be built by “${MAKE} buildkernel” and installed by “${MAKE} installkernel”. For example,

  ```
  KERNCONF=MINE DEBUG GENERIC OTHERMACHINE
  ```

  will build the kernels specified by the config files *MINE*, *DEBUG*, *GENERIC*, and *OTHERMACHINE*, and install the kernel specified by the config file *MINE*. It defaults to *GENERIC*.

- *MODULES\_OVERRIDE*

  (*str*) Set to a list of modules to build instead of all of them.

- *NO\_KERNELCLEAN*

  (*bool*) Set this to skip running “${MAKE} clean” during “${MAKE} buildkernel”.

- *NO\_KERNELCONFIG*

  (*bool*) Set this to skip running [config(8)](/config/8.md) during “${MAKE} buildkernel”.

- *NO\_KERNELOBJ*

  (*bool*) Set this to skip running “${MAKE} obj” during “${MAKE} buildkernel”.

- *NO\_MODULES*

  (*bool*) Set to not build modules with the kernel.

- *PORTS\_MODULES*

  Set this to the list of ports you wish to rebuild every time the kernel is built.

- *WITHOUT\_MODULES*

  (*str*) Set to a list of modules to exclude from the build. This provides a somewhat easier way to exclude modules you are certain you will never need than specifying *MODULES\_OVERRIDE*. This is applied *after* *MODULES\_OVERRIDE*.

### BUILDING THE WORLD

The following list provides a name and short description for variables that are used during the world build:

- *BOOT\_COMCONSOLE\_PORT*

  (*str*) The port address to use for the console if the boot blocks have been configured to use a serial console instead of the keyboard/video card.

- *BOOT\_COMCONSOLE\_SPEED*

  (*int*) The baud rate to use for the console if the boot blocks have been configured to use a serial console instead of the keyboard/video card.

- *BOOT\_PXELDR\_ALWAYS\_SERIAL*

  (*bool*) Compile in the code into [pxeboot(8)](/pxeboot/8.md) that forces the use of a serial console. This is analogous to the **-h** option in [boot(8)](/boot/8.md) blocks.

- *BOOT\_PXELDR\_PROBE\_KEYBOARD*

  (*bool*) Compile in the code into [pxeboot(8)](/pxeboot/8.md) that probes the keyboard. If no keyboard is found, boot with the dual console configuration. This is analogous to the **-D** option in [boot(8)](/boot/8.md) blocks.

- *ENABLE\_SUID\_K5SU*

  (*bool*) Set this if you wish to use the ksu utility. Otherwise, it will be installed without the set-user-ID bit set.

- *ENABLE\_SUID\_NEWGRP*

  (*bool*) Set this to install [newgrp(1)](/newgrp/1.md) with the set-user-ID bit set. Otherwise, [newgrp(1)](/newgrp/1.md) will not be able to change users' groups.

- *LOADER\_TFTP\_SUPPORT*

  (*bool*) By default the [pxeboot(8)](/pxeboot/8.md) loader retrieves the kernel via NFS. Defining this and recompiling */usr/src/stand* will cause it to retrieve the kernel via TFTP. This allows [pxeboot(8)](/pxeboot/8.md) to load a custom BOOTP diskless kernel yet still mount the server's */* rather than load the server's kernel.

- *LOADER\_FIREWIRE\_SUPPORT*

  (*bool*) Defining this and recompiling */usr/src/stand/i386* will add [dcons(4)](/dcons/4.md) console driver to [loader(8)](/loader/8.md) and allow access over FireWire(IEEE1394) using [dconschat(8)](/dconschat/8.md). Currently, only i386 and amd64 are supported.

- *MAN\_ARCH*

  (*str*) Space-delimited list of one or more MACHINE and/or MACHINE\_ARCH values for which section 4 man pages will be installed. The special value ‘all’ installs all available architectures. It is also the default value.

- *MODULES\_WITH\_WORLD*

  (*bool*) Set to build modules with the system instead of the kernel.

- *NO\_CLEAN*

  (*bool*) Set this to disable cleaning during “make buildworld”. This should not be set unless you know what you are doing.

- *NO\_CLEANDIR*

  (*bool*) Set this to run “${MAKE} clean” instead of “${MAKE} cleandir”.

- *WITH\_MANCOMPRESS*

  (*defined*) Set to install manual pages compressed.

- *WITHOUT\_MANCOMPRESS*

  (*defined*) Set to install manual pages uncompressed.

- *NO\_SHARE*

  (*bool*) Set to not build in the *share* subdir.

- *NO\_SHARED*

  (*bool*) Set to build */bin* and */sbin* statically linked, this can be bad. If set, every utility that uses *bsd.prog.mk* will be linked statically.

- *PKG\_REPO\_SIGNING\_KEY*

  (*str*) Path to rsa private key passed to pkg-repo(8) to sign packages created when building the *packages* target, i.e.: pkgbase. The variable is named the same in poudriere(8) so it will automatically be picked up when building pkgbase with poudriere.

- *PPP\_NO\_NAT*

  (*bool*) Build [ppp(8)](/ppp/8.md) without support for network address translation (NAT).

- *PPP\_NO\_NETGRAPH*

  (*bool*) Set to build [ppp(8)](/ppp/8.md) without support for Netgraph.

- *PPP\_NO\_RADIUS*

  (*bool*) Set to build [ppp(8)](/ppp/8.md) without support for RADIUS.

- *PPP\_NO\_SUID*

  (*bool*) Set to disable the installation of [ppp(8)](/ppp/8.md) as a set-user-ID root program.

- *SENDMAIL\_ADDITIONAL\_MC*

  (*str*) Additional *.mc* files which should be built into *.cf* files at build time. The value should include the full path to the *.mc* file(s), e.g., */etc/mail/foo.mc*, */etc/mail/bar.mc*.

- *SENDMAIL\_ALIASES*

  (*str*) List of [aliases(5)](/aliases/5.md) files to rebuild when using */etc/mail/Makefile*. The default value is */etc/mail/aliases*.

- *SENDMAIL\_CFLAGS*

  (*str*) Flags to pass to the compile command when building [sendmail(8)](/sendmail/8.md). The *SENDMAIL\_\** flags can be used to provide SASL support with setting such as:

  ```
  SENDMAIL_CFLAGS=-I/usr/local/include -DSASL
  SENDMAIL_LDFLAGS=-L/usr/local/lib
  SENDMAIL_LDADD=-lsasl
  ```

- *SENDMAIL\_CF\_DIR*

  (*str*) Override the default location for the [m4(1)](/m4/1.md) configuration files used to build a *.cf* file from a *.mc* file.

- *SENDMAIL\_DPADD*

  (*str*) Extra dependencies to add when building [sendmail(8)](/sendmail/8.md).

- *SENDMAIL\_LDADD*

  (*str*) Flags to add to the end of the [ld(1)](/ld/1.md) command when building [sendmail(8)](/sendmail/8.md).

- *SENDMAIL\_LDFLAGS*

  (*str*) Flags to pass to the [ld(1)](/ld/1.md) command when building [sendmail(8)](/sendmail/8.md).

- *SENDMAIL\_M4\_FLAGS*

  (*str*) Flags passed to [m4(1)](/m4/1.md) when building a *.cf* file from a *.mc* file.

- *SENDMAIL\_MAP\_PERMS*

  (*str*) Mode to use when generating alias and map database files using */etc/mail/Makefile*. The default value is 0640.

- *SENDMAIL\_MAP\_SRC*

  (*str*) Additional maps to rebuild when using */etc/mail/Makefile*. The *access*, *bitdomain*, *domaintable*, *genericstable*, *mailertable*, *uucpdomain*, and *virtusertable* maps are always rebuilt if they exist.

- *SENDMAIL\_MAP\_TYPE*

  (*str*) Database map type to use when generating map database files using */etc/mail/Makefile*. The default value is hash. The alternative is btree.

- *SENDMAIL\_MC*

  (*str*) The default [m4(1)](/m4/1.md) configuration file to use at install time. The value should include the full path to the *.mc* file, e.g., */etc/mail/myconfig.mc*. Use with caution as a make install will overwrite any existing */etc/mail/sendmail.cf*. Note that *SENDMAIL\_CF* is deprecated.

- *SENDMAIL\_SET\_USER\_ID*

  (*bool*) If set, install [sendmail(8)](/sendmail/8.md) as a set-user-ID root binary instead of a set-group-ID binary and do not install */etc/mail/submit.{cf,mc}*. Use of this flag is not recommended and the alternative advice in */etc/mail/README* should be followed instead if at all possible.

- *SENDMAIL\_START\_SCRIPT*

  (*str*) The script used by */etc/mail/Makefile* to start, stop, and restart [sendmail(8)](/sendmail/8.md). The default value is */etc/rc.d/sendmail*.

- *SENDMAIL\_SUBMIT\_MC*

  (*str*) The default [m4(1)](/m4/1.md) configuration file for mail submission to use at install time. The value should include the full path to the *.mc* file, e.g., */etc/mail/mysubmit.mc*. Use with caution as a make install will overwrite any existing */etc/mail/submit.cf*.

- *TOP\_TABLE\_SIZE*

  (*int*) [top(1)](/top/1.md) uses a hash table for the user names. The size of this hash can be tuned to match the number of local users. The table size should be a prime number approximately twice as large as the number of lines in */etc/passwd*. The default number is 20011.

- *WANT\_FORCE\_OPTIMIZATION\_DOWNGRADE*

  (*int*) Causes the system compiler to be built such that it forces high optimization levels to a lower one. [cc(1)](/cc/1.md) **-O2** and above is known to trigger known optimizer bugs at various times. The value assigned is the highest optimization value used.

### BUILDING DOCUMENTATION

The following list provides a name and short description for variables that are used when building documentation.

- *DOC\_LANG*

  (*str*) The list of languages to build and install when building documentation in */usr/doc*.

- *PRINTERDEVICE*

  (*str*) The default format for system documentation in */usr/src/share/doc*, depends on your printer. This can be set to “ascii” for simple printers, or “ps” for postscript or graphics printers with a ghostscript filter, or both.

### BUILDING PORTS

Several make variables can be set that affect the building of ports. These variables and their effects are documented in [ports(7)](/ports/7.md), *${PORTSDIR}/Mk/\** and the FreeBSD Porter's Handbook.

## FILES

- */etc/make.conf*

  - */usr/doc/Makefile*

  - */usr/ports/Makefile*

  - */usr/share/examples/etc/make.conf*

  - */usr/share/mk/sys.mk*

  - */usr/src/Makefile*

  - */usr/src/Makefile.inc1*

  ## SEE ALSO

[cc(1)](/cc/1.md), [install(1)](/install/1.md), [make(1)](/make/1.md), [src.conf(5)](/src.conf/5.md), [style.Makefile(5)](/style.Makefile/5.md), [environ(7)](/environ/7.md), [ports(7)](/ports/7.md), [sendmail(8)](/sendmail/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **make.conf** file appeared sometime before FreeBSD 4.0.

## AUTHORS

This manual page was written by Mike W. Meyer ⟨*mwm@mired.org*⟩.

## CAVEATS

Note, that MAKEOBJDIRPREFIX and MAKEOBJDIR are environment variables and should not be set in **make.conf** or as command line arguments to [make(1)](/make/1.md), but in make's environment.

## BUGS

This manual page may occasionally be out of date with respect to the options currently available for use in **make.conf**. Please check the */usr/share/examples/etc/make.conf* file for the latest options which are available.