Makefile: Error while compiling src and test directories - c++

Question

LIB_DIRS = abcd xyz pqr mnq ghj
SER_DIRS = klm
.PHONY: default build lib service clean distclean
TEST_DIRS = abcd xyz pqr
test_lib :
for dir in $(TEST_DIRS); do \
$(MAKE) -C $$dir; \
done
TESTS := $(addprefix TEST_, $(TEST_DIRS))
run : $(TESTS)
TEST_%:
./$*/test/$*_test --log_level=message
test : test_lib run
default: all
all: build lib service
lib:
for dir in $(LIB_DIRS); do \
$(MAKE) -C $$dir; \
done
Each LIB_DIR has a src and test directory. With the make all command only src directories files should get compiled. But in my case the test directories files also get compiled along with src directories. While with make test command only test directories files get compiled. Since test files are dependent on src files, errors occur with make all for test files. Can some one help me resolve this?

Answer 1

Well, here is a starter:
You should provide Makefiles in each directory that know how to build lib and test. Obviously test depends on lib.
You could then change your lines to
lib:
for dir in $(LIB_DIRS); do \
$(MAKE) -C $$dir; \
done
to
lib:
for dir in $(LIB_DIRS); do \
$(MAKE) -C $$dir lib; \ #<- notice the target
done
and similar for test_lib. Otherwise, it is not possible with the current set of variables since the sub-make does not know what to do.