Why does this incredibly simple Makefile produce so much debug logging?

Question

I am learning about Makefiles and decided to write my first exercise. I have a directory with two files:

Makefile  makefile.cpp  

Here is makefile.cpp (surprise surprise!):

#include <iostream>

int main() {
  std::cout << "Hello World!\n";
  return 0;
}

And here is Makefile:

CC = g++
FILES = makefile.cpp
OUT_EXE = makefileout

build: $(FILES)
    $(CC) -o $(OUT_EXE) $(FILES)

And then I run make -d and get a very long log:

$ make -d
GNU Make 3.81
Copyright (C) 2006  Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.
There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

This program built for x86_64-pc-linux-gnu
Reading makefiles...
Reading makefile `Makefile'...
Updating makefiles....
 Considering target file `Makefile'.
  Looking for an implicit rule for `Makefile'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.o'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.c'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.cc'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.C'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.cpp'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.p'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.f'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.F'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.r'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.s'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.S'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.mod'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.sh'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile,v'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile,v'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.o'.
  Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.o'.
   Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.c'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.cc'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.C'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.cpp'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.p'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.f'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.F'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.r'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.s'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.S'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.mod'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.o'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.o,v'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.o'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.o,v'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.o'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.o'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.o'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.o'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.o'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.o'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.c'.
   Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.c'.
    Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
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    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.y'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.l'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.w'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.w'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.c'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.c,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.c'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.c,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.c'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.c'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.c'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.c'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.c'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.c'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.y'.
    Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.y'.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.y'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.y,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.y'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.y,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.y'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.y'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.y'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.y'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.y'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.y'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.l'.
    Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.l'.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
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     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.l'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.l,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.l'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.l,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.l'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.l'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.l'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.l'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.l'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.l'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.w'.
    Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.w'.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
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     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.w'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.w,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.w'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.w,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.w'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.w'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.w'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.w'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.w'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.w'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.w'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.cc'.
   Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.cc'.
    Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
    Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.cc'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.cc,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.cc'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.cc,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.cc'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.cc'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.cc'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.cc'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.cc'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.cc'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.C'.
   Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.C'.
    Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
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    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.C'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.C,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.C'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.C,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.C'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.C'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.C'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.C'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.C'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.C'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.cpp'.
   Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.cpp'.
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    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.cpp'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.cpp,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.cpp'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.cpp,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.cpp'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.cpp'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.cpp'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.cpp'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.cpp'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.cpp'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.p'.
   Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.p'.
    Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
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    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.web'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.p'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.p,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.p'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.p,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.p'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.p'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.p'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.p'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.p'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.p'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.web'.
    Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.web'.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
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     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.web'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.web,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.web'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.web,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.web'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.web'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.web'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.web'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.web'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.web'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.f'.
   Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.f'.
    Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
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    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.F'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.r'.
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    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.f,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.f'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.f,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.f'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.f'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.f'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.f'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.f'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.f'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.F'.
    Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.F'.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
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     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.F'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.F,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.F'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.F,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.F'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.F'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.F'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.F'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.F'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.F'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.r'.
    Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.r'.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
     Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.l'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.r'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.r,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.r'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.r,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.r'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.r'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.r'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.r'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.r'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.r'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.F'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.r'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.s'.
   Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.s'.
    Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
    Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.S'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.s'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.s,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.s'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.s,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.s'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.s'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.s'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.s'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.s'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.s'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.S'.
    Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.S'.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
     Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
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     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.S'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.S,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.S'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.S,v'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.S'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.S'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.S'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.S'.
     Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.S'.
     Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.S'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.S'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.mod'.
   Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.mod'.
    Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
    Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.mod'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.mod,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.mod'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.mod,v'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.mod'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.mod'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.mod'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.mod'.
    Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.mod'.
    Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.mod'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.c'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.cc'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.C'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.cpp'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.p'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.f'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.F'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.r'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.s'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.S'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Rejecting impossible implicit prerequisite `Makefile.mod'.
  Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile'.
  Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.sh'.
  Looking for a rule with intermediate file `Makefile.sh'.
   Avoiding implicit rule recursion.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.sh'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `Makefile.sh,v'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.sh'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.sh,v'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.sh'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/Makefile.sh'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.sh'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `s.Makefile.sh'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `Makefile.sh'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.Makefile.sh'.
  No implicit rule found for `Makefile'.
  Finished prerequisites of target file `Makefile'.
 No need to remake target `Makefile'.
Updating goal targets....
Considering target file `build'.
 File `build' does not exist.
  Considering target file `makefile.cpp'.
   Looking for an implicit rule for `makefile.cpp'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `makefile.cpp'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `makefile.cpp,v'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `makefile.cpp'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/makefile.cpp,v'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `makefile.cpp'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `RCS/makefile.cpp'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `makefile.cpp'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `s.makefile.cpp'.
   Trying pattern rule with stem `makefile.cpp'.
   Trying implicit prerequisite `SCCS/s.makefile.cpp'.
   No implicit rule found for `makefile.cpp'.
   Finished prerequisites of target file `makefile.cpp'.
  No need to remake target `makefile.cpp'.
 Finished prerequisites of target file `build'.
Must remake target `build'.
g++ -o makefileout makefile.cpp
Putting child 0x01a6de60 (build) PID 6157 on the chain.
Live child 0x01a6de60 (build) PID 6157 
Reaping winning child 0x01a6de60 PID 6157 
Removing child 0x01a6de60 PID 6157 from chain.
Successfully remade target file `build'.

The question I have: Am I doing something wrong? Why is so much logging being produced for such a simple example?

Also, my Makefile always seems to recompile the object code even if the source code is older than the latest make. In other words, I have never seen the message, "There is nothing to do."

Answer 1

Well, you have asked for debug with -d option. You got it. If you ask why GNU make has so much implicit rules which are checked everytime make processes a Makefile - that's mainly for historical reasons. There're build systems (e.g. Ninja) which don't have such a long development history and thus have less stuff within.