NMake for Windows: What It Is, How to Install It, and How to Use It

NMake is Microsoft’s implementation of the make build utility for Windows. If you work with Visual Studio toolchains, legacy Perl module builds, or command-line Windows builds, this guide will help you understand where NMake fits, how to install or locate it, and how to run common build commands safely.

Originally published on 2012-05-24; fully revised and updated.

What NMake is and when to use it

NMAKE.EXE reads a build description file (commonly called a makefile) and runs the commands needed to compile, test, or package software. In practice, many Windows build instructions that say make are adapted to nmake when using Microsoft toolchains.

The original post defines NMake as Microsoft’s Program Maintenance Utility and also highlights a common use case: replacing Unix-style make steps with NMake commands in Windows environments.

Where to get NMake on Windows

There are two practical paths: a modern Visual Studio-based path and a legacy standalone package path referenced in the original article.

Legacy installation steps from the original ActivePerl workflow

The original post describes a legacy installation method that was common for older Perl-on-Windows setups.

• Download nmake15.exe.
• Run it to extract files such as nmake.exe, nmake.err, and readme.txt.
• Copy nmake.exe and nmake.err to C:\Perl\bin (as described in the original post).
• Open a command window and run nmake to verify it responds.

nmake

Microsoft (R) Program Maintenance Utility   Version 1.50
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corp 1988-94. All rights reserved.

NMAKE : fatal error U1064: MAKEFILE not found and no target specified
Stop.Code language: CSS (css)

The U1064 message above is expected when NMake runs without a makefile or explicit target.

Typical NMake workflow for Perl module builds

For Perl module workflows that document Unix-style make commands, the Windows equivalent is usually nmake.

flowchart TD
    A[Open Windows build shell] --> B[Run perl Makefile.PL]
    B --> C[Run nmake]
    C --> D[Run nmake test]
    D --> E{Tests pass}
    E -- no --> F[Fix code and rerun]
    E -- yes --> G[Run nmake install]

perl Makefile.PL
nmake
nmake test
nmake installCode language: CSS (css)

Unix-style make commands vs Windows NMake commands

Minimal NMake makefile example

If your environment has Microsoft C/C++ tools configured, a minimal NMake file can look like this:

CC=cl
CFLAGS=/nologo /W3

all: hello.exe

hello.exe: hello.c
	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) /Fehello.exe hello.c

clean:
	del hello.exeCode language: JavaScript (javascript)

nmake
nmake clean

Historical Microsoft reference from the original post: MSDN NMake documentation link.

Best practices

• Use a properly configured Windows developer shell so compiler and linker tools are on PATH.
• In legacy setups, keep nmake.err with nmake.exe as instructed by the original workflow.
• If NMake reports missing makefiles, verify file name, current directory, and explicit target usage.
• Do not assume GNU Make syntax is fully compatible with NMake; review makefile syntax when porting build scripts.
• Treat very old download links as legacy references and validate trusted sources before use.

Rajesh Kumar

I’m Rajesh Kumar, a DevOps, SRE, DevSecOps, Cloud, and Platform Engineering expert passionate about sharing practical knowledge, real-world experiences, and industry best practices. I have worked at Cotocus and regularly write about technology, travel, investing, health, product reviews, and digital marketing through my various platforms.

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