---
name: "ml-makedepend"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "smlnj"
version: "110.99.9-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ml-makedepend"
---

# ml-makedepend(1)

makefile dependency generator for SML/NJ programs

## NAME

ml-makedepend - makefile dependency generator for SML/NJ programs

## SYNOPSIS

**ml-makedepend** \[*OPTIONS*\] *project.cm* *target*

## DESCRIPTION

**ML-Makedepend** is a tool for generating dependency information to allow the Unix [**make**(1)](/make/1.md) program to be used to build SML/NJ programs.

## OPTIONS

- **-f** *makefile*

  Specify the name of the makefile to which the dependency information is appended.  If this option is *not* given, then the output is appended to the end of the file `makefile` (or `Makefile`).  It is an error if neither file exists and the **-f** option is not specified.

- **-a** *arch*

  specifies the name a make variable for architecture-specific filenames and paths (the default is `ARCH`).

- **-o** *os*

  specifies the name a make variable for operating-system-specific filenames and paths (the default is `OPSYS`).

- **-n**

  generates full filenames and paths with any architecture or operating-system-specific parts expanded out to their definition for the host system.  If this option is specified, then any **-a** and **-o** options are ignored.

- **-C***ctl*=*value*

  set the control *ctl* to *value*.

- **-D***name*=*value*

  define the CM variable *name* to have the given value.

**-D**'name

define the CM variable *name* to have the value 1.

- **-U***name*

  remove any definition of the CM variable *name*.

## AUTHOR

**ML-Makedepend** was written by Matthias Blume.

## SEE-ALSO

[**ml-build**(1)](/ml-build/1.md), [**sml**(1)](/sml/1.md), [**smlnj**(7)](/smlnj/7.md)

## COPYING

Copyright © 2020 The Fellowship of SML/NJ

This is free software; see the source for copying  conditions.   There  is  NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.