1.1 Why do I want to use it?

Well, basically because it's the best thing since sliced bread. But if you want specifics, here is a list of features:

• Mosmake is written to work with the new "toplevel mode" of Moscow ML 2.0. Toplevel mode is what allows you to use the full SML modules language (and then a bunch, but that's not our point here) instead of the simplified subset that Moscow ML supported in 1.44 and earlier versions.

• Units written with the old "structure mode" conventions are supported too. See section 2.3 Structure mode.

• The SML sources for the project can be split across several subdirectories. Mosmake transparently handles the task of fitting together cross-directory compilations. See section 2.10 Multiple directories.

• When used with GNU make 3.80 or newer, Mosmake will intelligently prune parts of the rebuild process that turn out to be unnecessary even tough that was not implied by the file modification dates. If you change an interface, you won't trigger recompilation of units that depend on it only indirectly. You can change comments and layout without any cascading recompilations at all. See section 2.2.6 The "smartmake" feature.

• Mosmake creates well-behaved makefile fragments that works together with your own rules for the rest of the build process. You can add your own rules to compile C programs, handling installation and configuration, running the SML programs compiled with Mosmake, build SML source files mechanically, or all of this at once. Mosmake can peacefully coexist with a master `Makefile' managed by autoconf. See section 2.7.3 Mosmake and other makefile generators.