My Makefile just doesnt work. - makefile

Question

I have a makefile which is just not working. Can you guys help me to find where the error is? Thanks!
CC = gcc
FILES = workfile.c insert.c
TARGETS = exe
CFLAGS = -o
DBUG =
RM = rm -f
OBJS = *.o
#Master Rule
all: $(TARGETS)
#Build
exe: workfile.o insert.o
$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(DBUG) workfile.o insert.o exe
#workfile
workfile.o: workfile.c
$(CC) $(DBUG) -c *.c
insert.o: insert.c
$(CC) $(DBUG) -c *.c
clean:
$(RM) $(TARGETS) $(OBJS)
The error is as follows
$make all
gcc -c *.c
gcc -o workfile.o insert.o exe
gcc: error: exe: No such file or directory
make: *** [exe] Error 1
I even tried changing the names of the targets. But did not help. Could not continue further.

Answer 1

I don't think it is a good idea to put -o in CFLAGS, I would rather to remove -o from it.
CFLAGS = -o -> CFLAGS =
Now you can work on your exe, the output path should follow -o immediately.
exe: workfile.o insert.o
$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(DBUG) workfile.o insert.o exe
=>
exe: workfile.o insert.o
$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(DBUG) -o exe workfile.o insert.o
So the full makefile should look like:
CC = gcc
FILES = workfile.c insert.c
TARGETS = exe
CFLAGS =
DBUG =
RM = rm -f
OBJS = *.o
#Master Rule
all: $(TARGETS)
#Build
exe: workfile.o insert.o
$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(DBUG) -o exe workfile.o insert.o
#workfile
workfile.o: workfile.c
$(CC) $(DBUG) -o workfile.o -c workfile.c
insert.o: insert.c
$(CC) $(DBUG) -o insert.o -c insert.c
clean:
$(RM) $(TARGETS) $(OBJS)

Answer 2

Your CFLAGS is used wrongly. The -o option should go before exe and the CFLAGS should contain relevant flags for the compiler (-O3 -Wall -Wextra -Werror for example).
Try this:
CFLAGS = -Wall -Wextra -Werror
exe: workfile.o insert.o
$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(DBUG) workfile.o insert.o -o exe
PS: You can strip the DBUG and stick the -g in CFLAGS when needed. This is how it is used in normal Makefiles.

Answer 3

Uh i got it... you have an -o in there in cflags. I think you shouldn't use -o in CFLAGS because it expects a parameter.
The important part that could be changed:
CFLAGS =
OUTFILE = fancy_exe
[...]
$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(DBUG) workfile.o insert.o -o $(OUTFILE)
This should work better... or even skip the outfile varaible and put exe by hand.