GNU Make - Unconditionally run a target before any other targets

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/6856563

When writing a (GNU) Makefile, there are times when you need a particular target(s) to be run before anything else. That can be for example to check the environment, ensure variables are set or prepare a particular directory layout.

... take advantage of GNU Make's mechanism of includeing and makeing makefiles which is described in details in the manual: