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[<!ENTITY % poky SYSTEM "../poky.ent"> %poky; ] >
<chapter id='closer-look'>
<title>A Closer Look at the Yocto Project Development Environment</title>
<para>
This chapter takes a more detailed look at the Yocto Project
development environment.
The following diagram represents the development environment at a
high level.
The remainder of this chapter expands on the fundamental input, output,
process, and
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#metadata'>Metadata</ulink>) blocks
in the Yocto Project development environment.
</para>
<para id='general-yocto-environment-figure'>
<imagedata fileref="figures/yocto-environment-ref.png" align="center" width="8in" depth="4.25in" />
</para>
<para>
The generalized Yocto Project Development Environment consists of
several functional areas:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><emphasis>User Configuration:</emphasis>
Metadata you can use to control the build process.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Metadata Layers:</emphasis>
Various layers that provide software, machine, and
distro Metadata.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Source Files:</emphasis>
Upstream releases, local projects, and SCMs.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Build System:</emphasis>
Processes under the control of
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#bitbake-term'>BitBake</ulink>.
This block expands on how BitBake fetches source, applies
patches, completes compilation, analyzes output for package
generation, creates and tests packages, generates images, and
generates cross-development tools.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Package Feeds:</emphasis>
Directories containing output packages (RPM, DEB or IPK),
which are subsequently used in the construction of an image or
SDK, produced by the build system.
These feeds can also be copied and shared using a web server or
other means to facilitate extending or updating existing
images on devices at runtime if runtime package management is
enabled.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Images:</emphasis>
Images produced by the development process.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Application Development SDK:</emphasis>
Cross-development tools that are produced along with an image
or separately with BitBake.</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
<section id="user-configuration">
<title>User Configuration</title>
<para>
User configuration helps define the build.
Through user configuration, you can tell BitBake the
target architecture for which you are building the image,
where to store downloaded source, and other build properties.
</para>
<para>
The following figure shows an expanded representation of the
"User Configuration" box of the
<link linkend='general-yocto-environment-figure'>general Yocto Project Development Environment figure</link>:
</para>
<para>
<imagedata fileref="figures/user-configuration.png" align="center" />
</para>
<para>
BitBake needs some basic configuration files in order to complete
a build.
These files are <filename>*.conf</filename> files.
The minimally necessary ones reside as example files in the
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#source-directory'>Source Directory</ulink>.
For simplicity, this section refers to the Source Directory as
the "Poky Directory."
</para>
<para>
When you clone the <filename>poky</filename> Git repository or you
download and unpack a Yocto Project release, you can set up the
Source Directory to be named anything you want.
For this discussion, the cloned repository uses the default
name <filename>poky</filename>.
<note>
The Poky repository is primarily an aggregation of existing
repositories.
It is not a canonical upstream source.
</note>
</para>
<para>
The <filename>meta-poky</filename> layer inside Poky contains
a <filename>conf</filename> directory that has example
configuration files.
These example files are used as a basis for creating actual
configuration files when you source the build environment
script
(i.e.
<link linkend='structure-core-script'><filename>&OE_INIT_FILE;</filename></link>
or
<link linkend='structure-memres-core-script'><filename>oe-init-build-env-memres</filename></link>).
</para>
<para>
Sourcing the build environment script creates a
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#build-directory'>Build Directory</ulink>
if one does not already exist.
BitBake uses the Build Directory for all its work during builds.
The Build Directory has a <filename>conf</filename> directory that
contains default versions of your <filename>local.conf</filename>
and <filename>bblayers.conf</filename> configuration files.
These default configuration files are created only if versions
do not already exist in the Build Directory at the time you
source the build environment setup script.
</para>
<para>
Because the Poky repository is fundamentally an aggregation of
existing repositories, some users might be familiar with running
the <filename>&OE_INIT_FILE;</filename> or
<filename>oe-init-build-env-memres</filename> script in the context
of separate OpenEmbedded-Core and BitBake repositories rather than a
single Poky repository.
This discussion assumes the script is executed from within a cloned
or unpacked version of Poky.
</para>
<para>
Depending on where the script is sourced, different sub-scripts
are called to set up the Build Directory (Yocto or OpenEmbedded).
Specifically, the script
<filename>scripts/oe-setup-builddir</filename> inside the
poky directory sets up the Build Directory and seeds the directory
(if necessary) with configuration files appropriate for the
Yocto Project development environment.
<note>
The <filename>scripts/oe-setup-builddir</filename> script
uses the <filename>$TEMPLATECONF</filename> variable to
determine which sample configuration files to locate.
</note>
</para>
<para>
The <filename>local.conf</filename> file provides many
basic variables that define a build environment.
Here is a list of a few.
To see the default configurations in a <filename>local.conf</filename>
file created by the build environment script, see the
<filename>local.conf.sample</filename> in the
<filename>meta-poky</filename> layer:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Parallelism Options:</emphasis>
Controlled by the
<link linkend='var-BB_NUMBER_THREADS'><filename>BB_NUMBER_THREADS</filename></link>,
<link linkend='var-PARALLEL_MAKE'><filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename></link>,
and
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_BB_URL;#var-BB_NUMBER_PARSE_THREADS'><filename>BB_NUMBER_PARSE_THREADS</filename></ulink>
variables.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Target Machine Selection:</emphasis>
Controlled by the
<link linkend='var-MACHINE'><filename>MACHINE</filename></link>
variable.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Download Directory:</emphasis>
Controlled by the
<link linkend='var-DL_DIR'><filename>DL_DIR</filename></link>
variable.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Shared State Directory:</emphasis>
Controlled by the
<link linkend='var-SSTATE_DIR'><filename>SSTATE_DIR</filename></link>
variable.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Build Output:</emphasis>
Controlled by the
<link linkend='var-TMPDIR'><filename>TMPDIR</filename></link>
variable.</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
<note>
Configurations set in the <filename>conf/local.conf</filename>
file can also be set in the
<filename>conf/site.conf</filename> and
<filename>conf/auto.conf</filename> configuration files.
</note>
</para>
<para>
The <filename>bblayers.conf</filename> file tells BitBake what
layers you want considered during the build.
By default, the layers listed in this file include layers
minimally needed by the build system.
However, you must manually add any custom layers you have created.
You can find more information on working with the
<filename>bblayers.conf</filename> file in the
"<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#enabling-your-layer'>Enabling Your Layer</ulink>"
section in the Yocto Project Development Manual.
</para>
<para>
The files <filename>site.conf</filename> and
<filename>auto.conf</filename> are not created by the environment
initialization script.
If you want the <filename>site.conf</filename> file, you need to
create that yourself.
The <filename>auto.conf</filename> file is typically created by
an autobuilder:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><emphasis><filename>site.conf</filename>:</emphasis>
You can use the <filename>conf/site.conf</filename>
configuration file to configure multiple build directories.
For example, suppose you had several build environments and
they shared some common features.
You can set these default build properties here.
A good example is perhaps the packaging format to use
through the
<link linkend='var-PACKAGE_CLASSES'><filename>PACKAGE_CLASSES</filename></link>
variable.</para>
<para>One useful scenario for using the
<filename>conf/site.conf</filename> file is to extend your
<link linkend='var-BBPATH'><filename>BBPATH</filename></link>
variable to include the path to a
<filename>conf/site.conf</filename>.
Then, when BitBake looks for Metadata using
<filename>BBPATH</filename>, it finds the
<filename>conf/site.conf</filename> file and applies your
common configurations found in the file.
To override configurations in a particular build directory,
alter the similar configurations within that build
directory's <filename>conf/local.conf</filename> file.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis><filename>auto.conf</filename>:</emphasis>
The file is usually created and written to by
an autobuilder.
The settings put into the file are typically the same as
you would find in the <filename>conf/local.conf</filename>
or the <filename>conf/site.conf</filename> files.
</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
<para>
You can edit all configuration files to further define
any particular build environment.
This process is represented by the "User Configuration Edits"
box in the figure.
</para>
<para>
When you launch your build with the
<filename>bitbake <replaceable>target</replaceable></filename>
command, BitBake sorts out the configurations to ultimately
define your build environment.
It is important to understand that the OpenEmbedded build system
reads the configuration files in a specific order:
<filename>site.conf</filename>, <filename>auto.conf</filename>,
and <filename>local.conf</filename>.
And, the build system applies the normal assignment statement
rules.
Because the files are parsed in a specific order, variable
assignments for the same variable could be affected.
For example, if the <filename>auto.conf</filename> file and
the <filename>local.conf</filename> set
<replaceable>variable1</replaceable> to different values, because
the build system parses <filename>local.conf</filename> after
<filename>auto.conf</filename>,
<replaceable>variable1</replaceable> is assigned the value from
the <filename>local.conf</filename> file.
</para>
</section>
<section id="metadata-machine-configuration-and-policy-configuration">
<title>Metadata, Machine Configuration, and Policy Configuration</title>
<para>
The previous section described the user configurations that
define BitBake's global behavior.
This section takes a closer look at the layers the build system
uses to further control the build.
These layers provide Metadata for the software, machine, and
policy.
</para>
<para>
In general, three types of layer input exist:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Policy Configuration:</emphasis>
Distribution Layers provide top-level or general
policies for the image or SDK being built.
For example, this layer would dictate whether BitBake
produces RPM or IPK packages.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Machine Configuration:</emphasis>
Board Support Package (BSP) layers provide machine
configurations.
This type of information is specific to a particular
target architecture.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Metadata:</emphasis>
Software layers contain user-supplied recipe files,
patches, and append files.
</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
<para>
The following figure shows an expanded representation of the
Metadata, Machine Configuration, and Policy Configuration input
(layers) boxes of the
<link linkend='general-yocto-environment-figure'>general Yocto Project Development Environment figure</link>:
</para>
<para>
<imagedata fileref="figures/layer-input.png" align="center" width="8in" depth="7.5in" />
</para>
<para>
In general, all layers have a similar structure.
They all contain a licensing file
(e.g. <filename>COPYING</filename>) if the layer is to be
distributed, a <filename>README</filename> file as good practice
and especially if the layer is to be distributed, a
configuration directory, and recipe directories.
</para>
<para>
The Yocto Project has many layers that can be used.
You can see a web-interface listing of them on the
<ulink url="http://git.yoctoproject.org/">Source Repositories</ulink>
page.
The layers are shown at the bottom categorized under
"Yocto Metadata Layers."
These layers are fundamentally a subset of the
<ulink url="http://layers.openembedded.org/layerindex/layers/">OpenEmbedded Metadata Index</ulink>,
which lists all layers provided by the OpenEmbedded community.
<note>
Layers exist in the Yocto Project Source Repositories that
cannot be found in the OpenEmbedded Metadata Index.
These layers are either deprecated or experimental in nature.
</note>
</para>
<para>
BitBake uses the <filename>conf/bblayers.conf</filename> file,
which is part of the user configuration, to find what layers it
should be using as part of the build.
</para>
<para>
For more information on layers, see the
"<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#understanding-and-creating-layers'>Understanding and Creating Layers</ulink>"
section in the Yocto Project Development Manual.
</para>
<section id="distro-layer">
<title>Distro Layer</title>
<para>
The distribution layer provides policy configurations for your
distribution.
Best practices dictate that you isolate these types of
configurations into their own layer.
Settings you provide in
<filename>conf/distro/<replaceable>distro</replaceable>.conf</filename> override
similar
settings that BitBake finds in your
<filename>conf/local.conf</filename> file in the Build
Directory.
</para>
<para>
The following list provides some explanation and references
for what you typically find in the distribution layer:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><emphasis>classes:</emphasis>
Class files (<filename>.bbclass</filename>) hold
common functionality that can be shared among
recipes in the distribution.
When your recipes inherit a class, they take on the
settings and functions for that class.
You can read more about class files in the
"<link linkend='ref-classes'>Classes</link>" section.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>conf:</emphasis>
This area holds configuration files for the
layer (<filename>conf/layer.conf</filename>),
the distribution
(<filename>conf/distro/<replaceable>distro</replaceable>.conf</filename>),
and any distribution-wide include files.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>recipes-*:</emphasis>
Recipes and append files that affect common
functionality across the distribution.
This area could include recipes and append files
to add distribution-specific configuration,
initialization scripts, custom image recipes,
and so forth.</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
</section>
<section id="bsp-layer">
<title>BSP Layer</title>
<para>
The BSP Layer provides machine configurations.
Everything in this layer is specific to the machine for which
you are building the image or the SDK.
A common structure or form is defined for BSP layers.
You can learn more about this structure in the
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_BSP_URL;'>Yocto Project Board Support Package (BSP) Developer's Guide</ulink>.
<note>
In order for a BSP layer to be considered compliant with the
Yocto Project, it must meet some structural requirements.
</note>
</para>
<para>
The BSP Layer's configuration directory contains
configuration files for the machine
(<filename>conf/machine/<replaceable>machine</replaceable>.conf</filename>) and,
of course, the layer (<filename>conf/layer.conf</filename>).
</para>
<para>
The remainder of the layer is dedicated to specific recipes
by function: <filename>recipes-bsp</filename>,
<filename>recipes-core</filename>,
<filename>recipes-graphics</filename>, and
<filename>recipes-kernel</filename>.
Metadata can exist for multiple formfactors, graphics
support systems, and so forth.
<note>
While the figure shows several <filename>recipes-*</filename>
directories, not all these directories appear in all
BSP layers.
</note>
</para>
</section>
<section id="software-layer">
<title>Software Layer</title>
<para>
The software layer provides the Metadata for additional
software packages used during the build.
This layer does not include Metadata that is specific to the
distribution or the machine, which are found in their
respective layers.
</para>
<para>
This layer contains any new recipes that your project needs
in the form of recipe files.
</para>
</section>
</section>
<section id="sources-dev-environment">
<title>Sources</title>
<para>
In order for the OpenEmbedded build system to create an image or
any target, it must be able to access source files.
The
<link linkend='general-yocto-environment-figure'>general Yocto Project Development Environment figure</link>
represents source files using the "Upstream Project Releases",
"Local Projects", and "SCMs (optional)" boxes.
The figure represents mirrors, which also play a role in locating
source files, with the "Source Mirror(s)" box.
</para>
<para>
The method by which source files are ultimately organized is
a function of the project.
For example, for released software, projects tend to use tarballs
or other archived files that can capture the state of a release
guaranteeing that it is statically represented.
On the other hand, for a project that is more dynamic or
experimental in nature, a project might keep source files in a
repository controlled by a Source Control Manager (SCM) such as
Git.
Pulling source from a repository allows you to control
the point in the repository (the revision) from which you want to
build software.
Finally, a combination of the two might exist, which would give the
consumer a choice when deciding where to get source files.
</para>
<para>
BitBake uses the
<link linkend='var-SRC_URI'><filename>SRC_URI</filename></link>
variable to point to source files regardless of their location.
Each recipe must have a <filename>SRC_URI</filename> variable
that points to the source.
</para>
<para>
Another area that plays a significant role in where source files
come from is pointed to by the
<link linkend='var-DL_DIR'><filename>DL_DIR</filename></link>
variable.
This area is a cache that can hold previously downloaded source.
You can also instruct the OpenEmbedded build system to create
tarballs from Git repositories, which is not the default behavior,
and store them in the <filename>DL_DIR</filename> by using the
<link linkend='var-BB_GENERATE_MIRROR_TARBALLS'><filename>BB_GENERATE_MIRROR_TARBALLS</filename></link>
variable.
</para>
<para>
Judicious use of a <filename>DL_DIR</filename> directory can
save the build system a trip across the Internet when looking
for files.
A good method for using a download directory is to have
<filename>DL_DIR</filename> point to an area outside of your
Build Directory.
Doing so allows you to safely delete the Build Directory
if needed without fear of removing any downloaded source file.
</para>
<para>
The remainder of this section provides a deeper look into the
source files and the mirrors.
Here is a more detailed look at the source file area of the
base figure:
<imagedata fileref="figures/source-input.png" align="center" width="7in" depth="7.5in" />
</para>
<section id='upstream-project-releases'>
<title>Upstream Project Releases</title>
<para>
Upstream project releases exist anywhere in the form of an
archived file (e.g. tarball or zip file).
These files correspond to individual recipes.
For example, the figure uses specific releases each for
BusyBox, Qt, and Dbus.
An archive file can be for any released product that can be
built using a recipe.
</para>
</section>
<section id='local-projects'>
<title>Local Projects</title>
<para>
Local projects are custom bits of software the user provides.
These bits reside somewhere local to a project - perhaps
a directory into which the user checks in items (e.g.
a local directory containing a development source tree
used by the group).
</para>
<para>
The canonical method through which to include a local project
is to use the
<link linkend='ref-classes-externalsrc'><filename>externalsrc</filename></link>
class to include that local project.
You use either the <filename>local.conf</filename> or a
recipe's append file to override or set the
recipe to point to the local directory on your disk to pull
in the whole source tree.
</para>
<para>
For information on how to use the
<filename>externalsrc</filename> class, see the
"<link linkend='ref-classes-externalsrc'><filename>externalsrc.bbclass</filename></link>"
section.
</para>
</section>
<section id='scms'>
<title>Source Control Managers (Optional)</title>
<para>
Another place the build system can get source files from is
through an SCM such as Git or Subversion.
In this case, a repository is cloned or checked out.
The
<link linkend='ref-tasks-fetch'><filename>do_fetch</filename></link>
task inside BitBake uses
the <link linkend='var-SRC_URI'><filename>SRC_URI</filename></link>
variable and the argument's prefix to determine the correct
fetcher module.
</para>
<note>
For information on how to have the OpenEmbedded build system
generate tarballs for Git repositories and place them in the
<link linkend='var-DL_DIR'><filename>DL_DIR</filename></link>
directory, see the
<link linkend='var-BB_GENERATE_MIRROR_TARBALLS'><filename>BB_GENERATE_MIRROR_TARBALLS</filename></link>
variable.
</note>
<para>
When fetching a repository, BitBake uses the
<link linkend='var-SRCREV'><filename>SRCREV</filename></link>
variable to determine the specific revision from which to
build.
</para>
</section>
<section id='source-mirrors'>
<title>Source Mirror(s)</title>
<para>
Two kinds of mirrors exist: pre-mirrors and regular mirrors.
The <link linkend='var-PREMIRRORS'><filename>PREMIRRORS</filename></link>
and
<link linkend='var-MIRRORS'><filename>MIRRORS</filename></link>
variables point to these, respectively.
BitBake checks pre-mirrors before looking upstream for any
source files.
Pre-mirrors are appropriate when you have a shared directory
that is not a directory defined by the
<link linkend='var-DL_DIR'><filename>DL_DIR</filename></link>
variable.
A Pre-mirror typically points to a shared directory that is
local to your organization.
</para>
<para>
Regular mirrors can be any site across the Internet that is
used as an alternative location for source code should the
primary site not be functioning for some reason or another.
</para>
</section>
</section>
<section id="package-feeds-dev-environment">
<title>Package Feeds</title>
<para>
When the OpenEmbedded build system generates an image or an SDK,
it gets the packages from a package feed area located in the
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#build-directory'>Build Directory</ulink>.
The
<link linkend='general-yocto-environment-figure'>general Yocto Project Development Environment figure</link>
shows this package feeds area in the upper-right corner.
</para>
<para>
This section looks a little closer into the package feeds area used
by the build system.
Here is a more detailed look at the area:
<imagedata fileref="figures/package-feeds.png" align="center" width="7in" depth="6in" />
</para>
<para>
Package feeds are an intermediary step in the build process.
The OpenEmbedded build system provides classes to generate
different package types, and you specify which classes to enable
through the
<link linkend='var-PACKAGE_CLASSES'><filename>PACKAGE_CLASSES</filename></link>
variable.
Before placing the packages into package feeds,
the build process validates them with generated output quality
assurance checks through the
<link linkend='ref-classes-insane'><filename>insane</filename></link>
class.
</para>
<para>
The package feed area resides in the Build Directory.
The directory the build system uses to temporarily store packages
is determined by a combination of variables and the particular
package manager in use.
See the "Package Feeds" box in the illustration and note the
information to the right of that area.
In particular, the following defines where package files are
kept:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-DEPLOY_DIR'><filename>DEPLOY_DIR</filename></link>:
Defined as <filename>tmp/deploy</filename> in the Build
Directory.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><filename>DEPLOY_DIR_*</filename>:
Depending on the package manager used, the package type
sub-folder.
Given RPM, IPK, or DEB packaging and tarball creation, the
<link linkend='var-DEPLOY_DIR_RPM'><filename>DEPLOY_DIR_RPM</filename></link>,
<link linkend='var-DEPLOY_DIR_IPK'><filename>DEPLOY_DIR_IPK</filename></link>,
<link linkend='var-DEPLOY_DIR_DEB'><filename>DEPLOY_DIR_DEB</filename></link>,
or
<link linkend='var-DEPLOY_DIR_TAR'><filename>DEPLOY_DIR_TAR</filename></link>,
variables are used, respectively.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PACKAGE_ARCH'><filename>PACKAGE_ARCH</filename></link>:
Defines architecture-specific sub-folders.
For example, packages could exist for the i586 or qemux86
architectures.
</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
<para>
BitBake uses the <filename>do_package_write_*</filename> tasks to
generate packages and place them into the package holding area (e.g.
<filename>do_package_write_ipk</filename> for IPK packages).
See the
"<link linkend='ref-tasks-package_write_deb'><filename>do_package_write_deb</filename></link>",
"<link linkend='ref-tasks-package_write_ipk'><filename>do_package_write_ipk</filename></link>",
"<link linkend='ref-tasks-package_write_rpm'><filename>do_package_write_rpm</filename></link>",
and
"<link linkend='ref-tasks-package_write_tar'><filename>do_package_write_tar</filename></link>"
sections for additional information.
As an example, consider a scenario where an IPK packaging manager
is being used and package architecture support for both i586
and qemux86 exist.
Packages for the i586 architecture are placed in
<filename>build/tmp/deploy/ipk/i586</filename>, while packages for
the qemux86 architecture are placed in
<filename>build/tmp/deploy/ipk/qemux86</filename>.
</para>
</section>
<section id='bitbake-dev-environment'>
<title>BitBake</title>
<para>
The OpenEmbedded build system uses
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#bitbake-term'>BitBake</ulink>
to produce images.
You can see from the
<link linkend='general-yocto-environment-figure'>general Yocto Project Development Environment figure</link>,
the BitBake area consists of several functional areas.
This section takes a closer look at each of those areas.
</para>
<para>
Separate documentation exists for the BitBake tool.
See the
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_BB_URL;#bitbake-user-manual'>BitBake User Manual</ulink>
for reference material on BitBake.
</para>
<section id='source-fetching-dev-environment'>
<title>Source Fetching</title>
<para>
The first stages of building a recipe are to fetch and unpack
the source code:
<imagedata fileref="figures/source-fetching.png" align="center" width="6.5in" depth="5in" />
</para>
<para>
The
<link linkend='ref-tasks-fetch'><filename>do_fetch</filename></link>
and
<link linkend='ref-tasks-unpack'><filename>do_unpack</filename></link>
tasks fetch the source files and unpack them into the work
directory.
<note>
For every local file (e.g. <filename>file://</filename>)
that is part of a recipe's
<link linkend='var-SRC_URI'><filename>SRC_URI</filename></link>
statement, the OpenEmbedded build system takes a checksum
of the file for the recipe and inserts the checksum into
the signature for the <filename>do_fetch</filename>.
If any local file has been modified, the
<filename>do_fetch</filename> task and all tasks that
depend on it are re-executed.
</note>
By default, everything is accomplished in the
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#build-directory'>Build Directory</ulink>,
which has a defined structure.
For additional general information on the Build Directory,
see the
"<link linkend='structure-core-build'><filename>build/</filename></link>"
section.
</para>
<para>
Unpacked source files are pointed to by the
<link linkend='var-S'><filename>S</filename></link> variable.
Each recipe has an area in the Build Directory where the
unpacked source code resides.
The name of that directory for any given recipe is defined from
several different variables.
You can see the variables that define these directories
by looking at the figure:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-TMPDIR'><filename>TMPDIR</filename></link> -
The base directory where the OpenEmbedded build system
performs all its work during the build.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PACKAGE_ARCH'><filename>PACKAGE_ARCH</filename></link> -
The architecture of the built package or packages.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-TARGET_OS'><filename>TARGET_OS</filename></link> -
The operating system of the target device.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PN'><filename>PN</filename></link> -
The name of the built package.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PV'><filename>PV</filename></link> -
The version of the recipe used to build the package.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PR'><filename>PR</filename></link> -
The revision of the recipe used to build the package.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-WORKDIR'><filename>WORKDIR</filename></link> -
The location within <filename>TMPDIR</filename> where
a specific package is built.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-S'><filename>S</filename></link> -
Contains the unpacked source files for a given recipe.
</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
</section>
<section id='patching-dev-environment'>
<title>Patching</title>
<para>
Once source code is fetched and unpacked, BitBake locates
patch files and applies them to the source files:
<imagedata fileref="figures/patching.png" align="center" width="6in" depth="5in" />
</para>
<para>
The
<link linkend='ref-tasks-patch'><filename>do_patch</filename></link>
task processes recipes by
using the
<link linkend='var-SRC_URI'><filename>SRC_URI</filename></link>
variable to locate applicable patch files, which by default
are <filename>*.patch</filename> or
<filename>*.diff</filename> files, or any file if
"apply=yes" is specified for the file in
<filename>SRC_URI</filename>.
</para>
<para>
BitBake finds and applies multiple patches for a single recipe
in the order in which it finds the patches.
Patches are applied to the recipe's source files located in the
<link linkend='var-S'><filename>S</filename></link> directory.
</para>
<para>
For more information on how the source directories are
created, see the
"<link linkend='source-fetching-dev-environment'>Source Fetching</link>"
section.
</para>
</section>
<section id='configuration-and-compilation-dev-environment'>
<title>Configuration and Compilation</title>
<para>
After source code is patched, BitBake executes tasks that
configure and compile the source code:
<imagedata fileref="figures/configuration-compile-autoreconf.png" align="center" width="7in" depth="5in" />
</para>
<para>
This step in the build process consists of three tasks:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><emphasis><filename>do_configure</filename>:</emphasis>
This task configures the source by enabling and
disabling any build-time and configuration options for
the software being built.
Configurations can come from the recipe itself as well
as from an inherited class.
Additionally, the software itself might configure itself
depending on the target for which it is being built.
</para>
<para>The configurations handled by the
<link linkend='ref-tasks-configure'><filename>do_configure</filename></link>
task are specific
to source code configuration for the source code
being built by the recipe.</para>
<para>If you are using the
<link linkend='ref-classes-autotools'><filename>autotools</filename></link>
class,
you can add additional configuration options by using
the <link linkend='var-EXTRA_OECONF'><filename>EXTRA_OECONF</filename></link>
variable.
For information on how this variable works within
that class, see the
<filename>meta/classes/autotools.bbclass</filename> file.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis><filename>do_compile</filename>:</emphasis>
Once a configuration task has been satisfied, BitBake
compiles the source using the
<link linkend='ref-tasks-compile'><filename>do_compile</filename></link>
task.
Compilation occurs in the directory pointed to by the
<link linkend='var-B'><filename>B</filename></link>
variable.
Realize that the <filename>B</filename> directory is, by
default, the same as the
<link linkend='var-S'><filename>S</filename></link>
directory.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis><filename>do_install</filename>:</emphasis>
Once compilation is done, BitBake executes the
<link linkend='ref-tasks-install'><filename>do_install</filename></link>
task.
This task copies files from the <filename>B</filename>
directory and places them in a holding area pointed to
by the
<link linkend='var-D'><filename>D</filename></link>
variable.</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
</section>
<section id='package-splitting-dev-environment'>
<title>Package Splitting</title>
<para>
After source code is configured and compiled, the
OpenEmbedded build system analyzes
the results and splits the output into packages:
<imagedata fileref="figures/analysis-for-package-splitting.png" align="center" width="7in" depth="7in" />
</para>
<para>
The
<link linkend='ref-tasks-package'><filename>do_package</filename></link>
and
<link linkend='ref-tasks-packagedata'><filename>do_packagedata</filename></link>
tasks combine to analyze
the files found in the
<link linkend='var-D'><filename>D</filename></link> directory
and split them into subsets based on available packages and
files.
The analyzing process involves the following as well as other
items: splitting out debugging symbols,
looking at shared library dependencies between packages,
and looking at package relationships.
The <filename>do_packagedata</filename> task creates package
metadata based on the analysis such that the
OpenEmbedded build system can generate the final packages.
Working, staged, and intermediate results of the analysis
and package splitting process use these areas:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PKGD'><filename>PKGD</filename></link> -
The destination directory for packages before they are
split.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PKGDATA_DIR'><filename>PKGDATA_DIR</filename></link> -
A shared, global-state directory that holds data
generated during the packaging process.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PKGDESTWORK'><filename>PKGDESTWORK</filename></link> -
A temporary work area used by the
<filename>do_package</filename> task.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PKGDEST'><filename>PKGDEST</filename></link> -
The parent directory for packages after they have
been split.
</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
The <link linkend='var-FILES'><filename>FILES</filename></link>
variable defines the files that go into each package in
<link linkend='var-PACKAGES'><filename>PACKAGES</filename></link>.
If you want details on how this is accomplished, you can
look at the
<link linkend='ref-classes-package'><filename>package</filename></link>
class.
</para>
<para>
Depending on the type of packages being created (RPM, DEB, or
IPK), the <filename>do_package_write_*</filename> task
creates the actual packages and places them in the
Package Feed area, which is
<filename>${TMPDIR}/deploy</filename>.
You can see the
"<link linkend='package-feeds-dev-environment'>Package Feeds</link>"
section for more detail on that part of the build process.
<note>
Support for creating feeds directly from the
<filename>deploy/*</filename> directories does not exist.
Creating such feeds usually requires some kind of feed
maintenance mechanism that would upload the new packages
into an official package feed (e.g. the
Ångström distribution).
This functionality is highly distribution-specific
and thus is not provided out of the box.
</note>
</para>
</section>
<section id='image-generation-dev-environment'>
<title>Image Generation</title>
<para>
Once packages are split and stored in the Package Feeds area,
the OpenEmbedded build system uses BitBake to generate the
root filesystem image:
<imagedata fileref="figures/image-generation.png" align="center" width="6in" depth="7in" />
</para>
<para>
The image generation process consists of several stages and
depends on several tasks and variables.
The
<link linkend='ref-tasks-rootfs'><filename>do_rootfs</filename></link>
task creates the root filesystem (file and directory structure)
for an image.
This task uses several key variables to help create the list
of packages to actually install:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-IMAGE_INSTALL'><filename>IMAGE_INSTALL</filename></link>:
Lists out the base set of packages to install from
the Package Feeds area.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PACKAGE_EXCLUDE'><filename>PACKAGE_EXCLUDE</filename></link>:
Specifies packages that should not be installed.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-IMAGE_FEATURES'><filename>IMAGE_FEATURES</filename></link>:
Specifies features to include in the image.
Most of these features map to additional packages for
installation.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PACKAGE_CLASSES'><filename>PACKAGE_CLASSES</filename></link>:
Specifies the package backend to use and consequently
helps determine where to locate packages within the
Package Feeds area.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-IMAGE_LINGUAS'><filename>IMAGE_LINGUAS</filename></link>:
Determines the language(s) for which additional
language support packages are installed.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-PACKAGE_INSTALL'><filename>PACKAGE_INSTALL</filename></link>:
The final list of packages passed to the package manager
for installation into the image.
</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
<para>
With
<link linkend='var-IMAGE_ROOTFS'><filename>IMAGE_ROOTFS</filename></link>
pointing to the location of the filesystem under construction and
the <filename>PACKAGE_INSTALL</filename> variable providing the
final list of packages to install, the root file system is
created.
</para>
<para>
Package installation is under control of the package manager
(e.g. smart/rpm, opkg, or apt/dpkg) regardless of whether or
not package management is enabled for the target.
At the end of the process, if package management is not
enabled for the target, the package manager's data files
are deleted from the root filesystem.
As part of the final stage of package installation, postinstall
scripts that are part of the packages are run.
Any scripts that fail to run
on the build host are run on the target when the target system
is first booted.
If you are using a
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#creating-a-read-only-root-filesystem'>read-only root filesystem</ulink>,
all the post installation scripts must succeed during the
package installation phase since the root filesystem is
read-only.
</para>
<para>
The final stages of the <filename>do_rootfs</filename> task
handle post processing.
Post processing includes creation of a manifest file and
optimizations.
</para>
<para>
The manifest file (<filename>.manifest</filename>) resides
in the same directory as the root filesystem image.
This file lists out, line-by-line, the installed packages.
The manifest file is useful for the
<link linkend='ref-classes-testimage*'><filename>testimage</filename></link>
class, for example, to determine whether or not to run
specific tests.
See the
<link linkend='var-IMAGE_MANIFEST'><filename>IMAGE_MANIFEST</filename></link>
variable for additional information.
</para>
<para>
Optimizing processes run across the image include
<filename>mklibs</filename>, <filename>prelink</filename>,
and any other post-processing commands as defined by the
<link linkend='var-ROOTFS_POSTPROCESS_COMMAND'><filename>ROOTFS_POSTPROCESS_COMMAND</filename></link>
variable.
The <filename>mklibs</filename> process optimizes the size
of the libraries, while the
<filename>prelink</filename> process optimizes the dynamic
linking of shared libraries to reduce start up time of
executables.
</para>
<para>
After the root filesystem is built, processing begins on
the image through the <filename>do_image</filename> task.
The build system runs any pre-processing commands as defined
by the
<link linkend='var-IMAGE_PREPROCESS_COMMAND'><filename>IMAGE_PREPROCESS_COMMAND</filename></link>
variable.
This variable specifies a list of functions to call before
the OpenEmbedded build system creates the final image output
files.
</para>
<para>
The <filename>do_image</filename> task dynamically creates
other <filename>do_image_*</filename> tasks as needed, which
include compressing the root filesystem image to reduce the
overall size of the image.
The process turns everything into an image file or a set of
image files.
The formats used for the root filesystem depend on the
<link linkend='var-IMAGE_FSTYPES'><filename>IMAGE_FSTYPES</filename></link>
variable.
</para>
<para>
The final task involved in image creation is the
<filename>do_image_complete</filename> task.
This task completes the image by applying any image
post processing as defined through the
<link linkend='var-IMAGE_POSTPROCESS_COMMAND'><filename>IMAGE_POSTPROCESS_COMMAND</filename></link>
variable.
The variable specifies a list of functions to call once the
OpenEmbedded build system has created the final image output
files.
</para>
<note>
The entire image generation process is run under Pseudo.
Running under Pseudo ensures that the files in the root
filesystem have correct ownership.
</note>
</section>
<section id='sdk-generation-dev-environment'>
<title>SDK Generation</title>
<para>
The OpenEmbedded build system uses BitBake to generate the
Software Development Kit (SDK) installer script for both the
standard and extensible SDKs:
<imagedata fileref="figures/sdk-generation.png" align="center" />
</para>
<note>
For more information on the cross-development toolchain
generation, see the
"<link linkend='cross-development-toolchain-generation'>Cross-Development Toolchain Generation</link>"
section.
For information on advantages gained when building a
cross-development toolchain using the
<link linkend='ref-tasks-populate_sdk'><filename>do_populate_sdk</filename></link>
task, see the
"<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_SDK_URL;#sdk-building-an-sdk-installer'>Building an SDK Installer</ulink>"
section in the Yocto Project Software Development Kit (SDK)
Developer's Guide.
</note>
<para>
Like image generation, the SDK script process consists of
several stages and depends on many variables.
The <filename>do_populate_sdk</filename> and
<filename>do_populate_sdk_ext</filename> tasks use these
key variables to help create the list of packages to actually
install.
For information on the variables listed in the figure, see the
"<link linkend='sdk-dev-environment'>Application Development SDK</link>"
section.
</para>
<para>
The <filename>do_populate_sdk</filename> task helps create
the standard SDK and handles two parts: a target part and a
host part.
The target part is the part built for the target hardware and
includes libraries and headers.
The host part is the part of the SDK that runs on the
<link linkend='var-SDKMACHINE'><filename>SDKMACHINE</filename></link>.
</para>
<para>
The <filename>do_populate_sdk_ext</filename> task helps create
the extensible SDK and handles host and target parts
differently than its counter part does for the standard SDK.
For the extensible SDK, the task encapsulates the build system,
which includes everything needed (host and target) for the SDK.
</para>
<para>
Regardless of the type of SDK being constructed, the
tasks perform some cleanup after which a cross-development
environment setup script and any needed configuration files
are created.
The final output is the Cross-development
toolchain installation script (<filename>.sh</filename> file),
which includes the environment setup script.
</para>
</section>
</section>
<section id='images-dev-environment'>
<title>Images</title>
<para>
The images produced by the OpenEmbedded build system
are compressed forms of the
root filesystem that are ready to boot on a target device.
You can see from the
<link linkend='general-yocto-environment-figure'>general Yocto Project Development Environment figure</link>
that BitBake output, in part, consists of images.
This section is going to look more closely at this output:
<imagedata fileref="figures/images.png" align="center" width="5.5in" depth="5.5in" />
</para>
<para>
For a list of example images that the Yocto Project provides,
see the
"<link linkend='ref-images'>Images</link>" chapter.
</para>
<para>
Images are written out to the
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#build-directory'>Build Directory</ulink>
inside the <filename>tmp/deploy/images/<replaceable>machine</replaceable>/</filename>
folder as shown in the figure.
This folder contains any files expected to be loaded on the
target device.
The
<link linkend='var-DEPLOY_DIR'><filename>DEPLOY_DIR</filename></link>
variable points to the <filename>deploy</filename> directory,
while the
<link linkend='var-DEPLOY_DIR_IMAGE'><filename>DEPLOY_DIR_IMAGE</filename></link>
variable points to the appropriate directory containing images for
the current configuration.
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><filename><replaceable>kernel-image</replaceable></filename>:
A kernel binary file.
The <link linkend='var-KERNEL_IMAGETYPE'><filename>KERNEL_IMAGETYPE</filename></link>
variable setting determines the naming scheme for the
kernel image file.
Depending on that variable, the file could begin with
a variety of naming strings.
The <filename>deploy/images/<replaceable>machine</replaceable></filename>
directory can contain multiple image files for the
machine.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><filename><replaceable>root-filesystem-image</replaceable></filename>:
Root filesystems for the target device (e.g.
<filename>*.ext3</filename> or <filename>*.bz2</filename>
files).
The <link linkend='var-IMAGE_FSTYPES'><filename>IMAGE_FSTYPES</filename></link>
variable setting determines the root filesystem image
type.
The <filename>deploy/images/<replaceable>machine</replaceable></filename>
directory can contain multiple root filesystems for the
machine.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><filename><replaceable>kernel-modules</replaceable></filename>:
Tarballs that contain all the modules built for the kernel.
Kernel module tarballs exist for legacy purposes and
can be suppressed by setting the
<link linkend='var-MODULE_TARBALL_DEPLOY'><filename>MODULE_TARBALL_DEPLOY</filename></link>
variable to "0".
The <filename>deploy/images/<replaceable>machine</replaceable></filename>
directory can contain multiple kernel module tarballs
for the machine.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><filename><replaceable>bootloaders</replaceable></filename>:
Bootloaders supporting the image, if applicable to the
target machine.
The <filename>deploy/images/<replaceable>machine</replaceable></filename>
directory can contain multiple bootloaders for the
machine.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><filename><replaceable>symlinks</replaceable></filename>:
The <filename>deploy/images/<replaceable>machine</replaceable></filename>
folder contains
a symbolic link that points to the most recently built file
for each machine.
These links might be useful for external scripts that
need to obtain the latest version of each file.
</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
</section>
<section id='sdk-dev-environment'>
<title>Application Development SDK</title>
<para>
In the
<link linkend='general-yocto-environment-figure'>general Yocto Project Development Environment figure</link>,
the output labeled "Application Development SDK" represents an
SDK.
The SDK generation process differs depending on whether you build
a standard SDK
(e.g. <filename>bitbake -c populate_sdk</filename> <replaceable>imagename</replaceable>)
or an extensible SDK
(e.g. <filename>bitbake -c populate_sdk_ext</filename> <replaceable>imagename</replaceable>).
This section is going to take a closer look at this output:
<imagedata fileref="figures/sdk.png" align="center" width="9in" depth="7.25in" />
</para>
<para>
The specific form of this output is a self-extracting
SDK installer (<filename>*.sh</filename>) that, when run,
installs the SDK, which consists of a cross-development
toolchain, a set of libraries and headers, and an SDK
environment setup script.
Running this installer essentially sets up your
cross-development environment.
You can think of the cross-toolchain as the "host"
part because it runs on the SDK machine.
You can think of the libraries and headers as the "target"
part because they are built for the target hardware.
The environment setup script is added so that you can initialize
the environment before using the tools.
</para>
<note>
<para>
The Yocto Project supports several methods by which you can
set up this cross-development environment.
These methods include downloading pre-built SDK installers
or building and installing your own SDK installer.
</para>
<para>
For background information on cross-development toolchains
in the Yocto Project development environment, see the
"<link linkend='cross-development-toolchain-generation'>Cross-Development Toolchain Generation</link>"
section.
For information on setting up a cross-development
environment, see the
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_SDK_URL;#sdk-manual'>Yocto Project Software Development Kit (SDK) Developer's Guide</ulink>.
</para>
</note>
<para>
Once built, the SDK installers are written out to the
<filename>deploy/sdk</filename> folder inside the
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#build-directory'>Build Directory</ulink>
as shown in the figure at the beginning of this section.
Depending on the type of SDK, several variables exist that help
configure these files.
The following list shows the variables associated with a standard
SDK:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-DEPLOY_DIR'><filename>DEPLOY_DIR</filename></link>:
Points to the <filename>deploy</filename>
directory.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-SDKMACHINE'><filename>SDKMACHINE</filename></link>:
Specifies the architecture of the machine
on which the cross-development tools are run to
create packages for the target hardware.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-SDKIMAGE_FEATURES'><filename>SDKIMAGE_FEATURES</filename></link>:
Lists the features to include in the "target" part
of the SDK.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-TOOLCHAIN_HOST_TASK'><filename>TOOLCHAIN_HOST_TASK</filename></link>:
Lists packages that make up the host
part of the SDK (i.e. the part that runs on
the <filename>SDKMACHINE</filename>).
When you use
<filename>bitbake -c populate_sdk <replaceable>imagename</replaceable></filename>
to create the SDK, a set of default packages
apply.
This variable allows you to add more packages.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-TOOLCHAIN_TARGET_TASK'><filename>TOOLCHAIN_TARGET_TASK</filename></link>:
Lists packages that make up the target part
of the SDK (i.e. the part built for the
target hardware).
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-SDKPATH'><filename>SDKPATH</filename></link>:
Defines the default SDK installation path offered by the
installation script.
</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
This next list, shows the variables associated with an extensible
SDK:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-DEPLOY_DIR'><filename>DEPLOY_DIR</filename></link>:
Points to the <filename>deploy</filename> directory.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-SDK_EXT_TYPE'><filename>SDK_EXT_TYPE</filename></link>:
Controls whether or not shared state artifacts are copied
into the extensible SDK.
By default, all required shared state artifacts are copied
into the SDK.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-SDK_INCLUDE_PKGDATA'><filename>SDK_INCLUDE_PKGDATA</filename></link>:
Specifies whether or not packagedata will be included in
the extensible SDK for all recipes in the "world" target.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-SDK_LOCAL_CONF_WHITELIST'><filename>SDK_LOCAL_CONF_WHITELIST</filename></link>:
A list of variables allowed through from the build system
configuration into the extensible SDK configuration.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-SDK_LOCAL_CONF_BLACKLIST'><filename>SDK_LOCAL_CONF_BLACKLIST</filename></link>:
A list of variables not allowed through from the build
system configuration into the extensible SDK configuration.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><link linkend='var-SDK_INHERIT_BLACKLIST'><filename>SDK_INHERIT_BLACKLIST</filename></link>:
A list of classes to remove from the
<link linkend='var-INHERIT'><filename>INHERIT</filename></link>
value globally within the extensible SDK configuration.
</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
</section>
</chapter>
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