The Problem with Makefiles and Python

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 140 views

Introduction

In the world of software development, managing complex pipelines and dependencies is a crucial task. Traditionally, Makefiles have been used to automate tasks and manage dependencies. However, with the rise of Python, many developers are looking for a more Pythonic approach to managing their pipelines. In this article, we will explore the challenges of using Makefiles with Python and introduce a more elegant solution using doit.

The Problem with Makefiles and Python

When using Makefiles with Python, we often encounter a problem. The Makefile has the correct order of scripts, but the Python folders and scripts should not have the order as part of their names to avoid manual renaming. This can lead to confusion and make it difficult to spot the correct order of scripts.

Solving the Problem

There are several ways to solve this problem:

1. Use a Main Runner Script

One approach is to create a main script (e.g., main.py) that imports and runs the other scripts in the desired order. This approach is simple and easy to implement, but it can become cumbersome as the number of scripts grows.

2. Use a Configuration File

Another approach is to store the script execution order in a configuration file (e.g., order.json) and have a runner script execute them dynamically. This approach is more scalable than the main runner script approach, but it can become complex to manage the configuration file.

3. Use a Package with `init.py`

A third approach is to structure your scripts as a package with an __init__.py file that imports them in the correct order. This approach is more elegant than the previous two approaches, but it can become complex to manage the package structure.

4. Use a Dependency-Based Approach

A fourth approach is to use a lightweight dependency resolver like networkx to determine execution order dynamically. This approach is more scalable than the previous three approaches, but it does not know about input and target files.

The Limitations of Current Approaches

All the above approaches can solve the problem of quickly seeing and executing scripts in the correct order, but they are not a good replacement for the Makefile. The dependencies are not tracked properly, and the approaches do not know about input and target files.

Introducing doit

To overcome the limitations of the current approaches, we will rewrite the Makefile with doit. doit is a Python package that provides a more elegant and scalable way to manage pipelines and dependencies. It comes with a nice CLI so we can list all tasks, execute only certain tasks, etc.

Benefits of Using doit

Using doit provides several benefits:

Elegant and Scalable: doit provides a more elegant and scalable way to manage pipelines and dependencies.
Pythonic: doit is a Python package, making it easier to integrate with Python projects.
Nice CLI: doit comes with a nice CLI, making it easier to list all tasks, execute only certain tasks, etc.

Getting Started with doit

To get started with doit, you need to install it using pip:

pip install doit

Once installed, you can create a new doit file (e.g., tasks.py) and define your tasks using the doit API.

Defining Tasks with doit

To define tasks with doit, you need to use the task decorator. The task decorator takes a function as an argument and registers it as a task.

from doit import task

@task
def hello():
    print("Hello, World!")

In this example, we define a task called hello that prints "Hello, World!" to the console.

Executing Tasks with doit

To execute tasks with doit, you need to use the doit command. The doit command takes a task name as an argument and executes the task.

doit hello

In this example, we execute the hello task, which prints "Hello, World!" to the console.

Listing Tasks with doit

To list tasks with doit, you need to use the doit command with the --list option.

doit --list

In this example, we list all tasks defined in the tasks.py file.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using Makefiles with Python can be cumbersome and difficult to manage. doit provides a more elegant and scalable way to manage pipelines and dependencies. It comes with a nice CLI, making it easier to list all tasks, execute only certain tasks, etc. We hope this article has provided a comprehensive guide to switching from Makefile to doit.

Future Work

In the future, we plan to explore more advanced features of doit, such as:

Dependency Resolution: We plan to explore how doit can be used to resolve dependencies between tasks.
Task Scheduling: We plan to explore how doit can be used to schedule tasks to run at specific times.
Task Monitoring: We plan to explore how doit can be used to monitor the execution of tasks.

References

Appendix

A. Installing doit

To install doit, you need to use pip:

pip install doit

B. Creating a new doit file

To create a new doit file, you need to create a new file (e.g., tasks.py) and define your tasks using the doit API.

C. Defining tasks with doit

To define tasks with doit, you need to use the task decorator. The task decorator takes a function as an argument and registers it as a task.

from doit import task

@task
def hello():
    print("Hello, World!")

D. Executing tasks with doit

To execute tasks with doit, you need to use the doit command. The doit command takes a task name as an argument and executes the task.

doit hello

E. Listing tasks with doit

To list tasks with doit, you need to use the doit command with the --list option.

doit --list
```<br/>
# **doit Q&A: Frequently Asked Questions**

## **Introduction**

In our previous article, we introduced doit, a Python package that provides a more elegant and scalable way to manage pipelines and dependencies. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about doit.

## **Q: What is doit?**

A: doit is a Python package that provides a more elegant and scalable way to manage pipelines and dependencies. It comes with a nice CLI, making it easier to list all tasks, execute only certain tasks, etc.

## **Q: What are the benefits of using doit?**

A: The benefits of using doit include:

*   **Elegant and Scalable**: doit provides a more elegant and scalable way to manage pipelines and dependencies.
*   **Pythonic**: doit is a Python package, making it easier to integrate with Python projects.
*   **Nice CLI**: doit comes with a nice CLI, making it easier to list all tasks, execute only certain tasks, etc.

## **Q: How do I install doit?**

A: To install doit, you need to use pip:

```bash
pip install doit

Q: How do I create a new doit file?

A: To create a new doit file, you need to create a new file (e.g., tasks.py) and define your tasks using the doit API.

Q: How do I define tasks with doit?

A: To define tasks with doit, you need to use the task decorator. The task decorator takes a function as an argument and registers it as a task.

from doit import task

@task
def hello():
    print("Hello, World!")

Q: How do I execute tasks with doit?

A: To execute tasks with doit, you need to use the doit command. The doit command takes a task name as an argument and executes the task.

doit hello

Q: How do I list tasks with doit?

A: To list tasks with doit, you need to use the doit command with the --list option.

doit --list

Q: Can I use doit with other tools?

A: Yes, you can use doit with other tools. doit is designed to be extensible and can be used with other tools such as Git, Jenkins, etc.

Q: Is doit compatible with Windows?

A: Yes, doit is compatible with Windows. You can install doit on Windows using pip:

pip install doit

Q: Can I use doit with virtual environments?

A: Yes, you can use doit with virtual environments. doit is designed to work with virtual environments and can be used with tools such as virtualenv, conda, etc.

Q: How do I troubleshoot doit?

A: To troubleshoot doit, you can use the --verbose option to enable verbose mode. This will provide more detailed output and help you diagnose any issues.

doit --verbose

Q: Can I contribute to doit?

A: Yes, you can contribute to doit. doit is an open-source project and welcomes contributions from the community. You can submit bug reports, feature requests, and patches to the doit GitHub repository.

Conclusion

In conclusion, doit is a powerful tool for managing pipelines and dependencies. We hope this Q&A article has provided a comprehensive guide to using doit.

Future Work

In the future, we plan to explore more advanced features of doit, such as:

Dependency Resolution: We plan to explore how doit can be used to resolve dependencies between tasks.
Task Scheduling: We plan to explore how doit can be used to schedule tasks to run at specific times.
Task Monitoring: We plan to explore how doit can be used to monitor the execution of tasks.

References

Appendix

A. Installing doit

To install doit, you need to use pip:

pip install doit

B. Creating a new doit file

To create a new doit file, you need to create a new file (e.g., tasks.py) and define your tasks using the doit API.

C. Defining tasks with doit

To define tasks with doit, you need to use the task decorator. The task decorator takes a function as an argument and registers it as a task.

from doit import task

@task
def hello():
    print("Hello, World!")

D. Executing tasks with doit

To execute tasks with doit, you need to use the doit command. The doit command takes a task name as an argument and executes the task.

doit hello

E. Listing tasks with doit

To list tasks with doit, you need to use the doit command with the --list option.

doit --list