CUR_DIR = $(shell bash -c 'pwd') CUR_USER = $(shell bash -c 'echo $USER') PORT ?= $(shell bash -c 'read -p "Port (e.g. 8001): " pwd; echo $$pwd') EXTERNAL_ADDRESS ?= $(shell bash -c 'read -p "External address (e.g. something.com): " pwd; echo $$pwd') all: echo The password is $(EXTERNAL_ADDRESS) echo The port is $(PORT) echo The cwd is $(CUR_DIR)