diff --git a/clang_build/directories.py b/clang_build/directories.py
index cd74c22..d43a9e5 100644
--- a/clang_build/directories.py
+++ b/clang_build/directories.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 class Directories:
-    def __init__(self, files, dependencies, public_dependencies):
-        self.dependencies = dependencies
-
+    def __init__(self, files, public_dependencies):
         # Include directories
         self.include_private = files["include_directories"]
         self.include_public = files["public_include_directories"]
diff --git a/clang_build/project.py b/clang_build/project.py
index d04d3a6..8076a58 100644
--- a/clang_build/project.py
+++ b/clang_build/project.py
@@ -323,7 +323,6 @@ def add_targets(self, target_list: list):
         # Add nodes and edges for targets in self
         for target in target_list:
             self._project_tree.add_node(target, data=target)
-        self._project_tree.add_edges_from((self, target) for target in target_list)
 
         # Create a dotfile of the dependency graph
         create_dotfile = False
@@ -342,12 +341,8 @@ def add_targets(self, target_list: list):
         # Add edges for dependencies in targets defined in project
         for target in target_list:
             target.config["dependencies"] = self._get_dependencies_2(target, target.config.get("dependencies", []))
-            target.config["public_dependencies"] = self._get_dependencies_2(target, target.config.get("public_dependencies", []))
-
             for dependency in target.config["dependencies"]:
                 self._project_tree.add_edge(target, dependency)
-            for dependency in target.config["public_dependencies"]:
-                self._project_tree.add_edge(target, dependency, public=True)
 
         # Create new dotfile with full dependency graph
         if create_dotfile:
@@ -445,43 +440,47 @@ def build(
         targets_to_build = self._get_targets_to_build(build_all, target_list)
 
         # Sort targets in build order
-        target_build_description_list = [
+        build_list = [
             target
             for target in reversed(list(_nx.topological_sort(self._project_tree)))
-            if target in targets_to_build
+            if (target in targets_to_build or build_all)
             and not isinstance(self._project_tree.nodes[target]["data"], Project)
         ]
 
         # Get project sources, if any
         project_build_list = []
-        for target_description in target_build_description_list:
-            for predecessor in self._project_tree.predecessors(target_description):
-                if isinstance(predecessor, Project):
-                    project_build_list.append(predecessor)
+        for target_description in build_list:
+            project_build_list.append(target_description.parent_project)
         project_build_list = list(dict.fromkeys(project_build_list))
         for project in project_build_list:
             project.get_sources()
 
-        for target in target_build_description_list:
-            parent_project = next(self._project_tree.predecessors(target))
-            target.parent_directory = parent_project._directory
-            target.parent_build_directory = parent_project._build_directory
-
         ### Note: the project_tree needs to be updated directly for dependencies
         ### to be used correctly in the `_target_from_description` function
         target_build_list = []
-        for target in target_build_description_list:
-            if isinstance(target, _TargetDescription):
-                target_instance = self._target_from_description(
-                        self._project_tree.nodes[target]["data"]#, self._project_tree
+        for list_entry in build_list:
+            if isinstance(list_entry, _TargetDescription):
+                target = self._target_from_description(
+                        self._project_tree.nodes[list_entry]["data"]
                     )
-                target_build_list.append(target_instance)
-                self._project_tree.nodes[target]["data"] = target_instance
+                if target:
+                    target_build_list.append(target)
+                self._project_tree.nodes[list_entry]["data"] = target
+            elif isinstance(list_entry, _Target):
+                target_build_list.append(list_entry)
             else:
-                target_build_list.append(target)
+                error_message = self.parent.log_message(
+                    f"Found {target} in target list, which cannot be used because"
+                    " it is not derived from Target or TargetDescription."
+                )
+
+                self._logger.exception(error_message)
+                raise RuntimeError(error_message)
 
         if not target_build_list:
             self._logger.info("No targets to be built")
+        else:
+            self._logger.info(f"Building {', '.join([str(target) for target in target_build_list])}")
 
         # Compile
         with _Pool(processes=number_of_threads) as process_pool:
@@ -623,15 +622,9 @@ def _get_dependencies(self, target_description):
             for dependency in self._project_tree.successors(target_description)
         ]
 
-        public_dependencies = []
-        successors = self._project_tree.successors(target_description)
-        for target, dependency, public in self._project_tree.subgraph([target_description] + [s for s in successors]).edges(data="public"):
-            if public == True:
-                public_dependencies.append(self._project_tree.nodes()[dependency]["data"])
-
         # Are there executables named as dependencies?
         executable_dependencies = [
-            target for target in dependencies+public_dependencies if isinstance(target, _Executable)
+            target for target in dependencies if isinstance(target, _Executable)
         ]
         if executable_dependencies:
             exelist = ", ".join([f"[{dep.name}]" for dep in executable_dependencies])
@@ -641,7 +634,7 @@ def _get_dependencies(self, target_description):
             self._logger.error(error_message)
             raise RuntimeError(error_message)
 
-        return dependencies, public_dependencies
+        return dependencies
 
     def _get_dependencies_2(self, target, names):
         dependencies = []
@@ -686,7 +679,7 @@ def _target_from_description(self, target_description):
             Returns the correct target type based on input parameters
         """
 
-        dependencies, public_dependencies = self._get_dependencies(target_description)
+        dependencies = self._get_dependencies(target_description)
 
         # Sources
         target_description.get_sources()
@@ -703,7 +696,7 @@ def _target_from_description(self, target_description):
         if target_type is not None:
             target_type = str(target_type).lower()
             if target_type in _TARGET_MAP:
-                return _TARGET_MAP[target_type](target_description, files, dependencies, public_dependencies)
+                return _TARGET_MAP[target_type](target_description, files, dependencies)
             else:
                 error_message = target_description.log_message(
                     f'ERROR: Unsupported target type: "{target_description.config["target_type"].lower()}"'
@@ -717,12 +710,12 @@ def _target_from_description(self, target_description):
                 target_description.log_message(
                     "no source files found. Creating header-only target."
                 )
-                return _HeaderOnly(target_description, files, dependencies, public_dependencies)
+                return _HeaderOnly(target_description, files, dependencies)
 
             target_description.log_message(
                 f'{len(files["sourcefiles"])} source file(s) found. Creating executable target.'
             )
-            return _Executable(target_description, files, dependencies, public_dependencies)
+            return _Executable(target_description, files, dependencies)
 
     def get_sources(self):
         """External sources, if present, will be downloaded to build_directory/external_sources.
diff --git a/clang_build/target.py b/clang_build/target.py
index fd7fa98..1691021 100644
--- a/clang_build/target.py
+++ b/clang_build/target.py
@@ -52,13 +52,6 @@ def dependencies(self):
         """
         return self._dependencies
 
-    @property
-    def public_dependencies(self):
-        """Return a list of any:`clang_build.target.Target`, which this
-        target depends on.
-        """
-        return self._public_dependencies
-
     @property
     def root_directory(self):
         """Folders "include", "src", etc. are searched
@@ -87,7 +80,7 @@ def directories(self):
         """
         return self._directories
 
-    def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None, public_dependencies=None):
+    def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None):
         """Initialise a target.
 
         The procedure for initialisation is:
@@ -107,9 +100,6 @@ def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None, public_dependen
         dependencies
             Optional. A list of any:`clang_build.target.Target` which this target
             depends on.
-        public_dependencies
-            Optional. A list of any:`clang_build.target.Target` which this target
-            depends on and which should also be available to dependent targets.
         """
         _NamedLogger.__init__(self, _LOGGER)
         self._name = target_description.name
@@ -118,23 +108,20 @@ def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None, public_dependen
 
         if dependencies is None:
             dependencies = []
-
         self._dependencies = dependencies
 
-        if public_dependencies is None:
-            public_dependencies = []
-
-        self._public_dependencies = public_dependencies
+        self._root_directory = _Path(target_description.root_directory)
+        self._build_directory = target_description.build_directory
 
         self._headers = list(dict.fromkeys(files["headers"]))
 
-        self._directories = Directories(files, self.dependencies, self.public_dependencies)
+        self._directories = Directories(files, self.dependencies)
 
         # Compile and link flags
         self._build_flags = self._get_default_flags()
 
         # Dependencies' flags
-        for target in self.dependencies + self.public_dependencies:
+        for target in self.dependencies:
             # Header only libraries will forward all non-private flags
             self._add_dependency_flags(target)
 
@@ -182,7 +169,7 @@ def bundle(self):
         """
         self.unsuccessful_bundle = False
         bundle_files = []
-        for dependency in self.dependencies + self.public_dependencies:
+        for dependency in self.dependencies:
             bundle_files += dependency.bundle()
         return bundle_files
 
@@ -213,7 +200,7 @@ class HeaderOnly(Target):
     TODO: need to check whether "public" makes sense for header-only, when we have implemented "private" dependencies
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None, public_dependencies=None):
+    def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None):
         """Initialise a header-only target.
 
         Header-only targets' private flags and include-directories are public.
@@ -221,8 +208,7 @@ def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None, public_dependen
         super().__init__(
             target_description=target_description,
             files=files,
-            dependencies=dependencies,
-            public_dependencies=public_dependencies
+            dependencies=dependencies
         )
 
         if files["sourcefiles"]:
@@ -274,8 +260,7 @@ def __init__(
         platform_flags,
         prefix,
         suffix,
-        dependencies=None,
-        public_dependencies=None
+        dependencies=None
     ):
         self.source_files = files["sourcefiles"]
         self.is_c_target = not any(
@@ -285,8 +270,7 @@ def __init__(
         super().__init__(
             target_description=target_description,
             files=files,
-            dependencies=dependencies,
-            public_dependencies=public_dependencies
+            dependencies=dependencies
         )
 
         if not self.source_files:
@@ -342,12 +326,12 @@ def compile(self, process_pool, progress_disabled):
         """
 
         # Object file only needs to be (re-)compiled if the source file or headers it depends on changed
-        if not self._environment.force_build:
+        if self._environment.force_build:
+            self.needed_buildables = self.buildables
+        else:
             self.needed_buildables = [
                 buildable for buildable in self.buildables if buildable.needs_rebuild
             ]
-        else:
-            self.needed_buildables = self.buildables
 
         # If the target was not modified, it may not need to compile
         if not self.needed_buildables:
@@ -407,7 +391,7 @@ class Executable(Compilable):
     An executable cannot be the dependency of another target.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None, public_dependencies=None):
+    def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None):
         """Initialise an executable target.
         """
 
@@ -418,8 +402,7 @@ def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None, public_dependen
             platform_flags=target_description.environment.toolchain.platform_defaults['PLATFORM_EXTRA_FLAGS_EXECUTABLE'],
             prefix=target_description.environment.toolchain.platform_defaults['EXECUTABLE_PREFIX'],
             suffix=target_description.environment.toolchain.platform_defaults['EXECUTABLE_SUFFIX'],
-            dependencies=dependencies,
-            public_dependencies=public_dependencies
+            dependencies=dependencies
         )
 
         ### Bundling requires extra flags
@@ -431,7 +414,7 @@ def bundle(self):
 
         ### Gather
         bundle_files = []
-        for dependency in self.dependencies + self.public_dependencies:
+        for dependency in self.dependencies:
             bundle_files += dependency.bundle()
 
         ### Copy
@@ -529,8 +512,8 @@ def link(self):
             [buildable.object_file for buildable in self.buildables],
             self.outfile,
             self._build_flags._language_flags() + self._build_flags.final_link_flags_list(),
-            [target.output_folder.resolve() for target in self.dependencies+self.public_dependencies if target.__class__ is not HeaderOnly],
-            [target.outname for target in self.dependencies+self.public_dependencies if target.__class__ is not HeaderOnly],
+            [target.output_folder.resolve() for target in self.dependencies if target.__class__ is not HeaderOnly],
+            [target.outname for target in self.dependencies if target.__class__ is not HeaderOnly],
             False,
             self.is_c_target)
 
@@ -542,7 +525,7 @@ def link(self):
                 {self.identifier: self.link_report})
 
 class SharedLibrary(Compilable):
-    def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None, public_dependencies=None):
+    def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None):
 
         super().__init__(
             target_description=target_description,
@@ -551,8 +534,7 @@ def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None, public_dependen
             platform_flags=target_description.environment.toolchain.platform_defaults['PLATFORM_EXTRA_FLAGS_SHARED'],
             prefix=target_description.environment.toolchain.platform_defaults['SHARED_LIBRARY_PREFIX'],
             suffix=target_description.environment.toolchain.platform_defaults['SHARED_LIBRARY_SUFFIX'],
-            dependencies=dependencies,
-            public_dependencies=public_dependencies
+            dependencies=dependencies
         )
 
         # TODO: This has to go to the flags department I guess
@@ -576,7 +558,7 @@ def bundle(self):
             self_bundle_files.append(_Path(str(self.outfile)[:-3] + "lib"))
 
         bundle_files = []
-        for dependency in self.dependencies + self.public_dependencies:
+        for dependency in self.dependencies:
             bundle_files += dependency.bundle()
 
         ### Copy
@@ -611,8 +593,8 @@ def link(self):
             [buildable.object_file for buildable in self.buildables],
             self.outfile,
             self._build_flags._language_flags() + self._build_flags.final_link_flags_list(),
-            [target.output_folder.resolve() for target in self.dependencies+self.public_dependencies if target.__class__ is not HeaderOnly],
-            [target.outname for target in self.dependencies+self.public_dependencies if target.__class__ is not HeaderOnly],
+            [target.output_folder.resolve() for target in self.dependencies if target.__class__ is not HeaderOnly],
+            [target.outname for target in self.dependencies if target.__class__ is not HeaderOnly],
             True,
             self.is_c_target)
 
@@ -634,8 +616,7 @@ def __init__(self, target_description, files, dependencies=None):
             platform_flags=target_description.environment.toolchain.platform_defaults['PLATFORM_EXTRA_FLAGS_STATIC'],
             prefix=target_description.environment.toolchain.platform_defaults['STATIC_LIBRARY_PREFIX'],
             suffix=target_description.environment.toolchain.platform_defaults['STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX'],
-            dependencies=dependencies,
-            public_dependencies=public_dependencies
+            dependencies=dependencies
         )
 
     def _add_dependency_flags(self, target):
@@ -656,7 +637,7 @@ def link(self):
         objects = [buildable.object_file for buildable in self.buildables]
 
         # Dependencies' objects
-        for target in self.dependencies+self.public_dependencies:
+        for target in self.dependencies:
             if not target.__class__ is HeaderOnly:
                 objects += [buildable.object_file for buildable in target.buildables]
 
diff --git a/test/public_dependency/clang-build.toml b/test/public_dependency/clang-build.toml
deleted file mode 100644
index c70862f..0000000
--- a/test/public_dependency/clang-build.toml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-name = "mainproject"
-
-subprojects = ["libA"]
-
-[myexe]
-    output_name  = "runLib"
-    directory    = "myexe"
-    dependencies = ["libA.libA"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/public_dependency/libA/clang-build.toml b/test/public_dependency/libA/clang-build.toml
deleted file mode 100644
index 4b39262..0000000
--- a/test/public_dependency/libA/clang-build.toml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-name = "libA"
-
-subprojects = ["libB", "libC"]
-
-[libA]
-    version      = "0.0.0"
-    target_type  = "static library"
-    dependencies = ["libB.libB"]
-    public_dependencies = ["libC.libC"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/public_dependency/libA/libA.cpp b/test/public_dependency/libA/libA.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 6c8978f..0000000
--- a/test/public_dependency/libA/libA.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-#include <libA.hpp>
-#include <libB.hpp>
-
-namespace libA {
-
-float triple(float x) { return libB::triple(x); }
-
-} // namespace libA
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/public_dependency/libA/libA.hpp b/test/public_dependency/libA/libA.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 88b3b26..0000000
--- a/test/public_dependency/libA/libA.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-#pragma once
-
-namespace libA {
-
-float triple(float x);
-
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/public_dependency/libA/libB/clang-build.toml b/test/public_dependency/libA/libB/clang-build.toml
deleted file mode 100644
index aa4fec8..0000000
--- a/test/public_dependency/libA/libB/clang-build.toml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-name = "libB"
-
-[libB]
-    version      = "0.0.0"
-    target_type  = "static library"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/public_dependency/libA/libB/libB.cpp b/test/public_dependency/libA/libB/libB.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index b5a4d62..0000000
--- a/test/public_dependency/libA/libB/libB.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-#include <libB.hpp>
-
-namespace libB {
-
-float triple(float x) { return 3 * x; }
-
-} // namespace libB
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/public_dependency/libA/libB/libB.hpp b/test/public_dependency/libA/libB/libB.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 4e77a6d..0000000
--- a/test/public_dependency/libA/libB/libB.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-#pragma once
-
-namespace libB {
-
-float triple(float x);
-
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/public_dependency/libA/libC/clang-build.toml b/test/public_dependency/libA/libC/clang-build.toml
deleted file mode 100644
index 9204b06..0000000
--- a/test/public_dependency/libA/libC/clang-build.toml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-name = "libC"
-
-[libC]
-    target_type  = "header only"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/public_dependency/libA/libC/libC.hpp b/test/public_dependency/libA/libC/libC.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 506ed91..0000000
--- a/test/public_dependency/libA/libC/libC.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-#pragma once
-
-namespace libC {
-
-float half(float x) { return 0.5f * x; };
-
-} // namespace libC
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/public_dependency/myexe/main.cpp b/test/public_dependency/myexe/main.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index bc36cbe..0000000
--- a/test/public_dependency/myexe/main.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-#include <iostream>
-
-#include <libA.hpp>
-#include <libC.hpp>
-
-int main() {
-  std::cerr << "Hello! libC::half(libA::triple(4)) returned "
-            << libC::half(libA::triple(4)) << std::endl;
-  return 0;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/test.py b/test/test.py
index 94f8308..e9ce0a1 100644
--- a/test/test.py
+++ b/test/test.py
@@ -162,16 +162,6 @@ def test_subproject(self):
 
         self.assertEqual(output, 'Hello! mylib::triple(3) returned 9')
 
-    def test_public_dependency(self):
-        clang_build_try_except(['-d', 'test/public_dependency', '-V'])
-
-        try:
-            output = subprocess.check_output(['./build/myexe/default/bin/runLib'], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT).decode('utf-8').strip()
-        except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
-            self.fail(f'Could not run compiled program. Message:\n{e.output}')
-
-        self.assertEqual(output, 'Hello! libC::half(libA::triple(4)) returned 6')
-
     def test_pyapi_subproject(self):
         clang_build_try_except(['-d', 'test/py-api/subproject', '-V'])