build tools
Table of contents
- What this project does?
- What do you need to get started?
- How to build an image or a kernel?
- Build parameter examples
- Compare with industry standards
- Where to download prebuilt images?
- Additional information
- Build tools overview
- Support
- Contribute
- Social
- Credits
- Sponsors
What this project does?
- builds custom Debian based Linux system optimized for supported single board computers,
- covers root filesystem generation, kernel image compilation and bootloader compilation,
- maintains low-level control software for a selection of hardware,
- provides a consistent user experience by keeping system standards across different SBC platforms.
What do you need to get started?
- x64 machine with at least 2GB of memory and ~35GB of disk space for a VM, container or native OS,
- Ubuntu Hirsute 21.04 x64 for native building or any Docker capable x64 Linux for containerised,
- Hirsute is required for newer non-LTS releases.. ex: Bullseye, Sid, Groovy, Hirsute
- If building for LTS releases.. ex: Focal, Bionic, Buster, it is possible to use Ubuntu 20.04 Focal, but it is not supported
- superuser rights (configured sudo or root access).
How to build an image or a kernel?
apt-get -y install git
git clone https://github.com/armbian/build
cd build
./compile.sh
- The script will take care about preparing the workspace like installing necessary dependencies and downloading sources and tools
- It guides through the process until either a kernel package set or a ready-to-use image for a SDcard is created
Build parameter examples
Show work in progress areas in interactive mode:
./compile.sh EXPERT="yes"
Run build tools inside Docker container:
./compile.sh docker
Build minimal CLI Armbian Focal image for Orangepi Zero. Use modern kernel and write image to the SD card:
./compile.sh \
BOARD=orangepizero \
BRANCH=current \
RELEASE=focal \
BUILD_MINIMAL=yes \
BUILD_DESKTOP=no \
KERNEL_ONLY=no \
KERNEL_CONFIGURE=no \
CARD_DEVICE="/dev/sda"
Build parameters, advanced build options, user defined configuration, build with Docker?
Compare with industry standards
Check similarity, advantages and disadvantages compared with leading industry standard build software.
| Function | Armbian | Yocto | Buildroot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | general purpose | embedded | embedded / IOT |
| U-boot and kernel | compiled from sources | compiled from sources | compiled from sources |
| Board support maintenance | complete | outside | outside |
| Root file system | Debian or Ubuntu based | custom | custom |
| Package manager | APT | any | none |
| Configurability | limited | large | large |
| Initramfs support | yes | yes | yes |
| Getting started | quick | very slow | slow |
| Cross compilation | yes | yes | yes |
Where to download prebuilt images?
https://www.armbian.com/download/
Armbian releases quarterly at the end of February, May, August, November. You are welcome to propose changes to our default images build list.
Additional information
- Build parameters and advanced build options,
- Make use of user defined configurations,
- Docker and Vagrant building guides,
- Engage in Armbian build framework forums,
- Check Jira project management application status,
- Make use of central project search engine,
- Browse IRC channel logs or interact at #armbian on Libera.
Build tools overview
├── cache Work / cache directory
│ ├── rootfs Compressed vanilla Debian and Ubuntu rootfilesystem cache
│ ├── sources Kernel, u-boot and various drivers sources. Mainly C code
│ ├── toolchains External cross compilers from Linaro™ or ARM™
├── config Packages repository configurations
│ ├── targets.conf Board build target configuration
│ ├── boards Board configurations
│ ├── bootenv Initial boot loaders environments per family
│ ├── bootscripts Initial Boot loaders scripts per family
│ ├── cli CLI packages configurations per distribution
│ ├── desktop Desktop packages configurations per distribution
│ ├── distributions Distributions settings
│ ├── kernel Kernel build configurations per family
│ ├── sources Kernel and u-boot sources locations and scripts
│ ├── templates User configuration templates which populate userpatches
│ └── torrents External compiler and rootfs cache torrents
├── lib Main build tools libraries
├── output Build artifact
│ └── deb Deb packages
│ └── images Bootable images - RAW or compressed
│ └── debug Patch and build logs
│ └── config Kernel configuration export location
│ └── patch Created patches location
├── packages Support scripts, binary blobs, packages
│ ├── blobs Wallpapers, various configs, closed source bootloaders
│ ├── bsp-cli Automatically added to armbian-bsp-cli package
│ ├── bsp-desktop Automatically added to armbian-bsp-desktopo package
│ ├── bsp Scripts and configs overlay for rootfs
│ └── extras-buildpkgs Optional compilation and packaging engine
├── patch Collection of patches
│ ├── atf ARM trusted firmware
│ ├── kernel Linux kernel patches
| | └── family-branch Per kernel family and branch
│ ├── misc Linux kernel packaging patches
│ └── u-boot Universal boot loader patches
| ├── u-boot-board For specific board
| └── u-boot-family For entire kernel family
└── userpatches User: configuration patching area
├── lib.config User: tools common config/override file
├── config-default.conf User: default user config file
├── customize-image.sh User: script will execute just before closing the image
├── atf User: ARM trusted firmware
├── kernel User: Linux kernel per kernel family
├── misc User: various
└── u-boot User: universal boot loader patches
Support
-
Have you found a bug in the build tools?
Try to recreate it with a clean build tools clone. Then search for existing and closed issues. If you don't find it there, open a new issue.
-
Do you have troubles elsewhere?
Armbian is free software and provides best effort help through community forums. If you can't find answer there and/or with help of general project search engine and documentation, consider hiring an expert.
-
Personalised support?
It is limited to active project supporters and sponsors. The shortest way to become one and receive our attention is a four figure donation to our non-profit project.
Contribute
-
Adding a new feature?
You are welcome to suggest or contribute directly to the code with a pull request. In case your proposed changes are large, remember to discuss them prior to development.
-
Join development?
Join regulars on their active missions, start maintaining any part of the code: patches, drivers or scripted applications like armbian-config, address community wishes,
-
Help elsewhere?
Maintain and develop documentation, CI, autotests, seed torrents, help on forum moderating, project administration, costs.
Social
- Participate in Armbian forums,
- Chat with fellow users on IRC #armbian on Libera.chat,
- Follow @armbian on Twitter or LinkedIN.
Credits
- Current and past contributors, our families and friends,
- Support staff that keeps forums usable,
- Individuals that help with their ideas, reports and donations.
Sponsors
Most of the project is sponsored with a work done by volunteer collaborators, while some part of the project costs are being covered by the industry. We would not be able to get this far without their help.
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