What if we're using a different compiler, then?

The comment that I was replying to sounds like CMake or something has more magic thus power for a future unknown compiler.

The point I was trying to make is that when you use CMake on any not-completely-unknown compiler, it will do this for you. If you are writing your own makefile, you either need to take the different compilers into account or implement it just for gcc ("screw the other guys") or simply resolve to "make clean && make".