The target type section of the makefile contains the macros needed to build either a Debug or Release version of a configuration.
For example, the default content of the target type section of a C++ makefile for the Microsoft environment is as follows:
############# Target type (Debug/Release) ###############
#########################################################
CPPCompileDebug=$OMCPPCompileDebug
CPPCompileRelease=$OMCPPCompileRelease
LinkDebug=$OMLinkDebug
LinkRelease=$OMLinkRelease
BuildSet=$OMBuildSet
SUBSYSTEM=$OMSubSystem
COM=$OMCOM
RPFrameWorkDll=$OMRPFrameWorkDll
ConfigurationCPPCompileSwitches=
$OMReusableStatechartSwitches
$OMConfigurationCPPCompile Switches
!IF "$(RPFrameWorkDll)" == "True"
ConfigurationCPPCompileSwitches=
$(ConfigurationCPPCompileSwitches) /D "FRAMEWORK_DLL"
!ENDIF
!IF "$(COM)" == "True"
SUBSYSTEM=/SUBSYSTEM:windows
!ENDIF