I Have a folder structure like this.

Gif_Utility

-> Makefile

-> include ( all .h files are over here)

-> Src ( all .c files are over here).

I am writing a makefile.

Makefile

VPATH = src:include
INC = -I ./include

gif_objects = gif_display.o \
gif_lzw.o \
gif_read.o \
sysm.o \
x86_main.o


gif_display.0 : gif_display.c
gcc -I /export/home/joshis1/MakeTutorial/GIF_Utility/include -c $<

#gif_lzw.0 : gif_lzw.c
# gcc $(INC) -c src/gif_lzw.c

#gif_read.0 : gif_read.c
# gcc -I ./include/ -c $<

#sysm_main.0 : sysm_main.c
# gcc -I ./include/ -c $<

#x86_main.0 : x86_main.c
# gcc -I ./include/ -c $<


On command prompt:
$ make gif_display.o

cc -c -o gif_display.o src/gif_display.c
src/gif_display.c:2:17: fatal error: sysm.h: No such file or directory
compilation terminated.
make: *** [gif_display.o] Error 1

On the other hand, If i do like this it compiles fine $make -> this creates the gif_display.o

I don't know why it is throwing error on specifying the rule. Am I missing something, please help.

I am using Ubuntu machine to build my code.

More info on Makefiles:

http://mrbook.org/tutorials/make/