makefile-review

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Audits Makefiles for build correctness, portability, and recipe duplication. Use when reviewing a Makefile or before committing Makefile changes.

athola By athola schedule Updated 6/5/2026

name: makefile-review description: Audits Makefiles for build correctness, portability, and recipe duplication. Use when reviewing a Makefile or before committing Makefile changes. globs: "**/Makefile" alwaysApply: false category: build tags:

  • makefile
  • build
  • make
  • portability
  • automation tools: [] usage_patterns:
  • makefile-audit
  • build-optimization
  • portability-review
  • deduplication complexity: intermediate model_hint: standard estimated_tokens: 150 progressive_loading: true dependencies:
  • imbue:proof-of-work
  • imbue:review-core
  • imbue:structured-output modules:
  • modules/dependency-graph.md
  • modules/deduplication-patterns.md
  • modules/portability-checks.md
  • modules/best-practices.md
  • modules/plugin-dogfood-checks.md

Table of Contents

Testing

Run pytest plugins/pensive/tests/skills/test_makefile_review.py to verify review logic.

Makefile Review Workflow

Audit Makefiles for best practices, deduplication, and portability.

Quick Start

/makefile-review

When To Use

  • Makefile changes or additions
  • Build system optimization
  • Portability improvements
  • CI/CD pipeline updates
  • Developer experience improvements

When NOT To Use

  • Creating new Makefiles - use abstract:make-dogfood
  • Architecture review - use architecture-review

Required TodoWrite Items

  1. makefile-review:context-mapped
  2. makefile-review:dependency-graph
  3. makefile-review:dedup-candidates
  4. makefile-review:tooling-alignment
  5. makefile-review:evidence-logged
  6. makefile-review:findings-verified

Workflow

Step 1: Map Context (makefile-review:context-mapped)

Confirm baseline:

pwd && git status -sb && git diff --stat

Verification: Run git status to confirm working tree state.

Find Make-related files:

rg -n "^include" -g'Makefile*'
rg --files -g '*.mk'

Document changed targets, project goals, and tooling requirements.

Step 2: Dependency Graph (makefile-review:dependency-graph)

@include modules/dependency-graph.md

Step 3: Deduplication Audit (makefile-review:dedup-candidates)

@include modules/deduplication-patterns.md

Step 4: Portability Check (makefile-review:tooling-alignment)

@include modules/portability-checks.md

Step 5: Evidence Log (makefile-review:evidence-logged)

Use imbue:proof-of-work to record command outputs with file:line references.

Summarize findings:

  • Severity (critical, major, minor)
  • Expected impact
  • Suggested refactors
  • Owners and dates for follow-ups

Progressive Loading

Load additional context as needed:

Best Practices & Examples: @include modules/best-practices.md

Plugin Dogfood Checks: @include modules/plugin-dogfood-checks.md - Makefile completeness analysis, target generation, and dogfooding validation.

Output Format

## Summary
Makefile review findings

## Context
- Files reviewed: [list]
- Targets changed: [list]

## Dependency Analysis
[graph and issues]

## Duplication Candidates
### [D1] Repeated command
- Locations: [list]
- Anchor: `verbatim source text at file:line`
- Recommendation: [pattern rule]

## Portability Issues
[cross-platform concerns]

## Missing Targets
- [ ] help
- [ ] format
- [ ] lint

## Recommendation
Approve / Approve with actions / Block

Verify Findings Are Grounded (makefile-review:findings-verified)

Every finding must cite a real location and a verbatim anchor. Write findings to .review/findings.json and confirm each citation resolves:

python plugins/imbue/scripts/citation_verifier.py \
  --findings .review/findings.json --repo-root .

Drop or label UNVERIFIED any finding the verifier fails (exit 1); only verified findings enter the report. See Skill(imbue:review-core) Step 5 and Skill(imbue:structured-output) for the schema.

Exit Criteria

  • Context mapped
  • Dependencies analyzed
  • Deduplication reviewed
  • Portability checked
  • Evidence logged
  • Every reported finding carries a Location + verbatim Anchor confirmed by citation_verifier.py (exit 0), or unverified findings were dropped or labeled UNVERIFIED

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

No Makefile found Ensure Makefile or *.mk files exist in the project root or specify paths explicitly.

Include directives not resolved Run rg -n "^include" -g'Makefile*' to trace include chains manually.

Install via CLI
npx skills add https://github.com/athola/claude-night-market --skill makefile-review
Repository Details
star Stars 305
call_split Forks 27
navigation Branch main
article Path SKILL.md
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