##### `makefile` {#var-stdenv-makefile}

The file name of the Makefile.

##### `makeFlags` {#var-stdenv-makeFlags}

A list of strings passed as additional flags to `make`. These flags are also used by the default install and check phase. For setting make flags specific to the build phase, use `buildFlags` (see below).

```nix
{
  makeFlags = [ "PREFIX=$(out)" ];
}
```

::: {.note}
The flags are quoted in bash, but environment variables can be specified by using the make syntax.
:::

##### `makeFlagsArray` {#var-stdenv-makeFlagsArray}

A shell array containing additional arguments passed to `make`. You must use this instead of `makeFlags` if the arguments contain spaces, e.g.

```nix
{
  preBuild = ''
    makeFlagsArray+=(CFLAGS="-O0 -g" LDFLAGS="-lfoo -lbar")
  '';
}
```

Note that shell arrays cannot be passed through environment variables, so you cannot set `makeFlagsArray` in a derivation attribute (because those are passed through environment variables): you have to define them in shell code.

##### `buildFlags` / `buildFlagsArray` {#var-stdenv-buildFlags}

A list of strings passed as additional flags to `make`. Like `makeFlags` and `makeFlagsArray`, but only used by the build phase. Any build targets should be specified as part of the `buildFlags`.

##### `preBuild` {#var-stdenv-preBuild}

Hook executed at the start of the build phase.

##### `postBuild` {#var-stdenv-postBuild}

Hook executed at the end of the build phase.

You can set flags for `make` through the `makeFlags` variable.

Before and after running `make`, the hooks `preBuild` and `postBuild` are called, respectively.

### The check phase {#ssec-check-phase}

The check phase checks whether the package was built correctly by running its test suite. The default `checkPhase` calls `make $checkTarget`, but only if the [`doCheck` variable](#var-stdenv-doCheck) is enabled.

It is highly recommended, for packages' sources that are not distributed with any tests, to at least use [`versionCheckHook`](#versioncheckhook) to test that the resulting executable is basically functional.

#### Variables controlling the check phase {#variables-controlling-the-check-phase}

##### `doCheck` {#var-stdenv-doCheck}

Controls whether the check phase is executed. By default it is skipped, but if `doCheck` is set to true, the check phase is usually executed. Thus you should set

```nix
{
  doCheck = true;
}
```

in the derivation to enable checks. The exception is cross compilation. Cross compiled builds never run tests, no matter how `doCheck` is set, as the newly-built program won’t run on the platform used to build it.

##### `makeFlags` / `makeFlagsArray` / `makefile` {#makeflags-makeflagsarray-makefile}

See the [build phase](#var-stdenv-makeFlags) for details.

##### `checkTarget` {#var-stdenv-checkTarget}

The `make` target that runs the tests.
If unset, use `check` if it exists, otherwise `test`; if neither is found, do nothing.

##### `checkFlags` / `checkFlagsArray` {#var-stdenv-checkFlags}

A list of strings passed as additional flags to `make`. Like `makeFlags` and `makeFlagsArray`, but only used by the check phase. Unlike with `buildFlags`, the `checkTarget` is automatically added to the `make` invocation in addition to any `checkFlags` specified.

##### `checkInputs` {#var-stdenv-checkInputs}

A list of host dependencies used by the phase, usually libraries linked into executables built during tests. This gets included in `buildInputs` when `doCheck` is set.

##### `nativeCheckInputs` {#var-stdenv-nativeCheckInputs}

A list of native dependencies used by the phase, notably tools needed on `$PATH`. This gets included in `nativeBuildInputs` when `doCheck` is set.

##### `preCheck` {#var-stdenv-preCheck}

Hook executed at the start of the check phase.

##### `postCheck` {#var-stdenv-postCheck}

Hook executed at the end of the check phase.

### The install phase {#ssec-install-phase}

The install phase is responsible for installing the package in the Nix store under `out`. The default `installPhase` creates the directory `$out` and calls `make install`.