Postfix is built in C so you will be compiling C code.  Usually the options that you want to create for a project are contained in a Makefile.  The make utility creates this Makefile which is used to determine dependencies, any requirements needed or changes you want to create like adding programs or locations of files.  The compiler then takes this information and creates object files and links them together into executables.

However, since Postfix creates its own Makefile, you do not need to edit it at all.  In fact, the problem with editing the Makefile for Postfix is that your edits will get written over.  So, the way to make changes is to use the CCARGS.

Prerequsites to Install
apt-get install db*-devel
apt-get install libdb-dev

Tools You will need
Usually when you install these basic tools the requirements for those tools will be installed as well.

gcc
make