9 1) Instructions for compiling
10 2) Changing the applications/kernel-options/libraries
17 The uClinux-dist source package is an "all-in-one" build framework for
18 generating a complete system. It has been developed with embedded devices
19 in mind, but it can just as equally be used for normal computing devices
20 (like a PC for example). It is ideal for building small, light weigth
23 The uClinux-dist was originally targeted specifically at non-MMU
24 microprocessors. But for many years now it has supported full VM processors.
25 It supports a wide varity of hardware, many CPUs and a large number of
29 1) Instructions for Compiling
30 -----------------------------
32 1. You will need a cross-compiler package for your target. Many binary
33 tool packages exists specifically for compiling uClinux. Install
34 that in the standard way first. For example, if you are targeting m68k
35 or ColdFire systems then you can use the m68k-uclinux-tools binary
36 packages of www.uclinux.org.
38 2. If you have not un-archived the source package then do that now.
39 It is a gziped tar image, so do:
41 tar xvzf uClinux-dist-XXXXXXXX.tar.gz
43 This will dump the source into a "uClinux-dist" directory.
44 You can do this into any directory, typically use your own user
45 login. (I don't recommend devloping as root, it is a bad pactice,
46 and it will bite you one day!)
48 3. Cd into the source tree:
52 4. Configure the build target:
56 You can also use "make config" or "make menuconfig" if you prefer.
58 The top level selection is straight forward if you know the vendor of
59 the board you want to compile for. You can choose also to modify the
60 underlying default kernel and application configuration if you want.
62 At first it is suggested that you use the default configuration for
63 your target board. It will almost certainly work "as is".
65 You can also select between different kernel versions and libraries,
66 at this top level. Not all kernel versions support all boards, as a
67 general rule choose 3.x. uClibc is the perferred library choice on
68 all targets (both MMU-less and VM processors). If you choose a
69 combination that doesn't have a default configuration file then the
70 config step will issue a message letting you know.
72 Based on what platform you choose in this step the build will generate
73 an appropriate default application set.
75 Sometimes a number of questions will appear after you 'Save and Exit'.
76 Do not be concerned, it just means that some new config options have
77 been added to the source tree that do not have defaults for the
78 configuration you have chosen. If this happens the safest option is
79 to answer 'N' to each question as they appear.
81 5. Build the dependencies (if required):
85 If you selected the 3.x kernel then you do not need to do this step.
86 If you choose the 2.4.x kernel you must run the make dep.
95 The make will generate appropriate binary images for the target hardware
96 specified. All generated files will be placed under the "images" directory.
97 The exact files vary from target to target, typically you end up with
98 something like an "image.bin" file.
100 How to load and run the generated image will depend on your target system
101 hardware. There are a number of HOWTO documents under the Documentation
102 directy that describe how to load and run the image on specific boards.
103 Look for a file named after your target board.
106 2) Changing the Applications/Kernel/Libraries
107 ---------------------------------------------
109 You can modify the kernel configuration and application set generated for
110 your target using the config system. You can configure by running one of
111 the following three commands:
113 make xconfig - graphical X11 based config
114 make menuconfig - text menu based config
115 make config - plain text shell script based config
117 Menuconfig and xconfig are the simplest, I would recommend using one of
120 The key options under the "Target Platform Selection" menu are the
123 Customize Kernel Settings
124 Selecting this option run the standard Linux kernel config.
126 Customize Vendor/User Settings
127 Selecting this option will run a configure process allowing
128 you to enable or disable individual applications and libraries.
130 Use the online "Help" if unsure of what a configuration option means.
132 When you 'Save and Exit' the build system will run you through the
133 configs you have selected to customise.
139 There is an assortment of documentaion files under the Documentaion
140 directory. The more interresting ones are:
142 SOURCE -- file at the top level gives a brief run down of the
143 structure of this source distribution package.
145 Documentation/Adding-User-Apps-HOWTO
146 -- description of how to add a new application into the
147 config and build setup of the distribution.
149 Documentation/Adding-Platforms-HOWTO
150 -- description of how to add a new vendor board config to
153 Documentation/<BOARD>-HOWTO
154 -- describes building and loading for a particular board.