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So the object files, libraries and executables will not be under your home, create links for the directories 'build' and 'work'. Pick a place under which you want to keep the object files, libraries and executables. Preferably under the default(!) space of you professors, for example:
work_space=~/projects/def-professor/${USER}/GEM_WORK_DIR # Set 'professor' to the CC name of your professor. You can find all of them under ~/projects.
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