diff --git a/bacnet-stack/build.bat b/bacnet-stack/build.bat
index 412aeede..cdacd493 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/build.bat
+++ b/bacnet-stack/build.bat
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 @echo off
 echo Build with MinGW mingw.sourceforge.net
 echo Note: copy mingw32-make.exe to make.exe to build for Win32
+set CC=gcc
+set AR=ar
 make BACNET_PORT=win32 BUILD=release clean all
 
 rem Build for MinGW debug
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/dcc/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/dcc/Makefile
index d7b3abc6..84975cb0 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/dcc/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/dcc/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for GCC compiler
-CC := gcc
+
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
 
 TARGET = bacdcc
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/epics/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/epics/Makefile
index 029a2807..028b0e29 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/epics/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/epics/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
-CC := gcc
+
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
 
 TARGET = bacepics
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/iamrouter/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/iamrouter/Makefile
index ce64ff7d..820b491b 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/iamrouter/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/iamrouter/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
-CC := gcc
+
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
 
 TARGET = baciamr
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/initrouter/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/initrouter/Makefile
index 74b0ac35..8c05f7a3 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/initrouter/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/initrouter/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
-CC := gcc
+
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
 
 TARGET = bacinitr
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/mstpcap/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/mstpcap/Makefile
index 6b2d4454..1dab905f 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/mstpcap/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/mstpcap/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
 
-# Compiler to use
-CC := gcc
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
+
 # Executable file name
 TARGET = mstpcap
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/readfile/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/readfile/Makefile
index 8dd87335..909c1773 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/readfile/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/readfile/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
-CC := gcc
+
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
 
 TARGET = bacarf
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/readprop/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/readprop/Makefile
index 1c0b1c1b..2e98ac51 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/readprop/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/readprop/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application using GCC compiler
-# Compiler to use
-CC := gcc
+
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
+
 # Executable file name
 TARGET = bacrp
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/readpropm/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/readpropm/Makefile
index c47dd8cd..3b5c464a 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/readpropm/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/readpropm/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
-# Compiler to use
-CC := gcc
+
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
+
 # Executable file name
 TARGET = bacrpm
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/reinit/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/reinit/Makefile
index c7141a51..e6f7c0f7 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/reinit/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/reinit/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
 
-# Compiler to use
-CC := gcc
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
+
 # Executable file name
 TARGET = bacrd
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/server/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/server/Makefile
index 289fbdd1..d1fe3e1b 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/server/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/server/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
 
-# Compiler to use
-CC := gcc
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
+
 # Executable file name
 TARGET = bacserv
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/timesync/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/timesync/Makefile
index 7e44af77..021774ec 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/timesync/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/timesync/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
 
-# Compiler to use
-CC := gcc
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
+
 # Executable file name
 TARGET = bacts
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/ucov/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/ucov/Makefile
index b9c9d05d..57d3b252 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/ucov/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/ucov/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
 
-# Compiler to use
-CC := gcc
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
+
 # Executable file name
 TARGET = bacucov
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/whohas/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/whohas/Makefile
index 3198af0a..f508a697 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/whohas/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/whohas/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
 
-# Compiler to use
-CC := gcc
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
+
 # Executable file name
 TARGET = bacwh
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/whois/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/whois/Makefile
index 7c240951..fa316a70 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/whois/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/whois/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
-CC := gcc
+
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
 
 TARGET = bacwi
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/whoisrouter/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/whoisrouter/Makefile
index 6cb8d003..9473689b 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/whoisrouter/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/whoisrouter/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
-CC := gcc
+
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
 
 TARGET = bacwir
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/writefile/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/writefile/Makefile
index 4fe4810f..203f1668 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/writefile/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/writefile/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
 
-# Compiler to use
-CC := gcc
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
+
 # Executable file name
 TARGET = bacawf
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/demo/writeprop/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/demo/writeprop/Makefile
index c7e517de..ad0ffea4 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/demo/writeprop/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/demo/writeprop/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Application for the Linux Port
 
-# Compiler to use
-CC := gcc
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
+
 # Executable file name
 TARGET = bacwp
 
diff --git a/bacnet-stack/lib/Makefile b/bacnet-stack/lib/Makefile
index d66776f6..c2350c20 100644
--- a/bacnet-stack/lib/Makefile
+++ b/bacnet-stack/lib/Makefile
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 #Makefile to build BACnet Library with GCC
 
-# tools 
-#     (':=' sets them to gcc and ar unless they are already defined for
-#           a board-specific cross-compiler and archiver)
-CC := gcc
-AR := ar
+# tools - only if you need them.  
+# Most platforms have this already defined
+# CC = gcc
+# AR = ar
 
 # target
 TARGET = bacnet