diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'documentation/ref-manual/terms.rst')
-rw-r--r-- | documentation/ref-manual/terms.rst | 390 |
1 files changed, 390 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/terms.rst b/documentation/ref-manual/terms.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..c07dd4b128 --- /dev/null +++ b/documentation/ref-manual/terms.rst | |||
@@ -0,0 +1,390 @@ | |||
1 | .. SPDX-License-Identifier: CC-BY-SA-2.0-UK | ||
2 | |||
3 | ******************* | ||
4 | Yocto Project Terms | ||
5 | ******************* | ||
6 | |||
7 | Following is a list of terms and definitions users new to the Yocto Project | ||
8 | development environment might find helpful. While some of these terms are | ||
9 | universal, the list includes them just in case: | ||
10 | |||
11 | .. glossary:: | ||
12 | |||
13 | :term:`Append Files` | ||
14 | Files that append build information to a recipe file. Append files are | ||
15 | known as BitBake append files and ``.bbappend`` files. The OpenEmbedded | ||
16 | build system expects every append file to have a corresponding recipe | ||
17 | (``.bb``) file. Furthermore, the append file and corresponding recipe file | ||
18 | must use the same root filename. The filenames can differ only in the | ||
19 | file type suffix used (e.g. ``formfactor_0.0.bb`` and | ||
20 | ``formfactor_0.0.bbappend``). | ||
21 | |||
22 | Information in append files extends or overrides the information in the | ||
23 | similarly-named recipe file. For an example of an append file in use, see | ||
24 | the ":ref:`dev-manual/common-tasks:Using .bbappend Files in | ||
25 | Your Layer`" section in the Yocto Project Development Tasks Manual. | ||
26 | |||
27 | When you name an append file, you can use the "``%``" wildcard character | ||
28 | to allow for matching recipe names. For example, suppose you have an | ||
29 | append file named as follows: | ||
30 | :: | ||
31 | |||
32 | busybox_1.21.%.bbappend | ||
33 | |||
34 | That append file | ||
35 | would match any ``busybox_1.21.``\ x\ ``.bb`` version of the recipe. So, | ||
36 | the append file would match any of the following recipe names: | ||
37 | |||
38 | .. code-block:: shell | ||
39 | |||
40 | busybox_1.21.1.bb | ||
41 | busybox_1.21.2.bb | ||
42 | busybox_1.21.3.bb | ||
43 | busybox_1.21.10.bb | ||
44 | busybox_1.21.25.bb | ||
45 | |||
46 | .. note:: | ||
47 | |||
48 | The use of the "%" character is limited in that it only works | ||
49 | directly in front of the .bbappend portion of the append file's | ||
50 | name. You cannot use the wildcard character in any other location of | ||
51 | the name. | ||
52 | |||
53 | :term:`BitBake` | ||
54 | The task executor and scheduler used by the OpenEmbedded build system to | ||
55 | build images. For more information on BitBake, see the :doc:`BitBake User | ||
56 | Manual <bitbake:index>`. | ||
57 | |||
58 | :term:`Board Support Package (BSP)` | ||
59 | A group of drivers, definitions, and other components that provide support | ||
60 | for a specific hardware configuration. For more information on BSPs, see | ||
61 | the :doc:`/bsp-guide/index`. | ||
62 | |||
63 | :term:`Build Directory` | ||
64 | This term refers to the area used by the OpenEmbedded build system for | ||
65 | builds. The area is created when you ``source`` the setup environment | ||
66 | script that is found in the Source Directory | ||
67 | (i.e. :ref:`ref-manual/structure:\`\`oe-init-build-env\`\``). The | ||
68 | :term:`TOPDIR` variable points to the Build Directory. | ||
69 | |||
70 | You have a lot of flexibility when creating the Build Directory. | ||
71 | Following are some examples that show how to create the directory. The | ||
72 | examples assume your :term:`Source Directory` is named ``poky``: | ||
73 | |||
74 | - Create the Build Directory inside your Source Directory and let | ||
75 | the name of the Build Directory default to ``build``: | ||
76 | |||
77 | .. code-block:: shell | ||
78 | |||
79 | $ cd $HOME/poky | ||
80 | $ source oe-init-build-env | ||
81 | |||
82 | - Create the Build Directory inside your home directory and | ||
83 | specifically name it ``test-builds``: | ||
84 | |||
85 | .. code-block:: shell | ||
86 | |||
87 | $ cd $HOME | ||
88 | $ source poky/oe-init-build-env test-builds | ||
89 | |||
90 | - Provide a directory path and specifically name the Build | ||
91 | Directory. Any intermediate folders in the pathname must exist. | ||
92 | This next example creates a Build Directory named | ||
93 | ``YP-POKYVERSION`` in your home directory within the existing | ||
94 | directory ``mybuilds``: | ||
95 | |||
96 | .. code-block:: shell | ||
97 | |||
98 | $ cd $HOME | ||
99 | $ source $HOME/poky/oe-init-build-env $HOME/mybuilds/YP-POKYVERSION | ||
100 | |||
101 | .. note:: | ||
102 | |||
103 | By default, the Build Directory contains :term:`TMPDIR`, which is a | ||
104 | temporary directory the build system uses for its work. ``TMPDIR`` cannot | ||
105 | be under NFS. Thus, by default, the Build Directory cannot be under | ||
106 | NFS. However, if you need the Build Directory to be under NFS, you can | ||
107 | set this up by setting ``TMPDIR`` in your ``local.conf`` file to use a local | ||
108 | drive. Doing so effectively separates ``TMPDIR`` from :term:`TOPDIR`, which is the | ||
109 | Build Directory. | ||
110 | |||
111 | :term:`Build Host` | ||
112 | The system used to build images in a Yocto Project Development | ||
113 | environment. The build system is sometimes referred to as the development | ||
114 | host. | ||
115 | |||
116 | :term:`Classes` | ||
117 | Files that provide for logic encapsulation and inheritance so that | ||
118 | commonly used patterns can be defined once and then easily used in | ||
119 | multiple recipes. For reference information on the Yocto Project classes, | ||
120 | see the ":ref:`ref-manual/classes:Classes`" chapter. Class files end with the | ||
121 | ``.bbclass`` filename extension. | ||
122 | |||
123 | :term:`Configuration File` | ||
124 | Files that hold global definitions of variables, user-defined variables, | ||
125 | and hardware configuration information. These files tell the OpenEmbedded | ||
126 | build system what to build and what to put into the image to support a | ||
127 | particular platform. | ||
128 | |||
129 | Configuration files end with a ``.conf`` filename extension. The | ||
130 | :file:`conf/local.conf` configuration file in the :term:`Build Directory` | ||
131 | contains user-defined variables that affect every build. The | ||
132 | :file:`meta-poky/conf/distro/poky.conf` configuration file defines Yocto | ||
133 | "distro" configuration variables used only when building with this | ||
134 | policy. Machine configuration files, which are located throughout the | ||
135 | :term:`Source Directory`, define variables for specific hardware and are | ||
136 | only used when building for that target (e.g. the | ||
137 | :file:`machine/beaglebone.conf` configuration file defines variables for | ||
138 | the Texas Instruments ARM Cortex-A8 development board). | ||
139 | |||
140 | :term:`Container Layer` | ||
141 | Layers that hold other layers. An example of a container layer is | ||
142 | OpenEmbedded's `meta-openembedded | ||
143 | <https://github.com/openembedded/meta-openembedded>`_ layer. The | ||
144 | ``meta-openembedded`` layer contains many ``meta-*`` layers. | ||
145 | |||
146 | :term:`Cross-Development Toolchain` | ||
147 | In general, a cross-development toolchain is a collection of software | ||
148 | development tools and utilities that run on one architecture and allow you | ||
149 | to develop software for a different, or targeted, architecture. These | ||
150 | toolchains contain cross-compilers, linkers, and debuggers that are | ||
151 | specific to the target architecture. | ||
152 | |||
153 | The Yocto Project supports two different cross-development toolchains: | ||
154 | |||
155 | - A toolchain only used by and within BitBake when building an image for a | ||
156 | target architecture. | ||
157 | |||
158 | - A relocatable toolchain used outside of BitBake by developers when | ||
159 | developing applications that will run on a targeted device. | ||
160 | |||
161 | Creation of these toolchains is simple and automated. For information on | ||
162 | toolchain concepts as they apply to the Yocto Project, see the | ||
163 | ":ref:`overview-manual/concepts:Cross-Development | ||
164 | Toolchain Generation`" section in the Yocto Project Overview and Concepts | ||
165 | Manual. You can also find more information on using the relocatable | ||
166 | toolchain in the :doc:`/sdk-manual/index` manual. | ||
167 | |||
168 | :term:`Extensible Software Development Kit (eSDK)` | ||
169 | A custom SDK for application developers. This eSDK allows developers to | ||
170 | incorporate their library and programming changes back into the image to | ||
171 | make their code available to other application developers. | ||
172 | |||
173 | For information on the eSDK, see the :doc:`/sdk-manual/index` manual. | ||
174 | |||
175 | :term:`Image` | ||
176 | An image is an artifact of the BitBake build process given a collection of | ||
177 | recipes and related Metadata. Images are the binary output that run on | ||
178 | specific hardware or QEMU and are used for specific use-cases. For a list | ||
179 | of the supported image types that the Yocto Project provides, see the | ||
180 | ":ref:`ref-manual/images:Images`" chapter. | ||
181 | |||
182 | :term:`Layer` | ||
183 | A collection of related recipes. Layers allow you to consolidate related | ||
184 | metadata to customize your build. Layers also isolate information used | ||
185 | when building for multiple architectures. Layers are hierarchical in | ||
186 | their ability to override previous specifications. You can include any | ||
187 | number of available layers from the Yocto Project and customize the build | ||
188 | by adding your layers after them. You can search the Layer Index for | ||
189 | layers used within Yocto Project. | ||
190 | |||
191 | For introductory information on layers, see the | ||
192 | ":ref:`overview-manual/yp-intro:The Yocto Project Layer | ||
193 | Model`" section in the Yocto Project Overview and Concepts Manual. For | ||
194 | more detailed information on layers, see the | ||
195 | ":ref:`dev-manual/common-tasks:Understanding and Creating | ||
196 | Layers`" section in the Yocto Project Development Tasks Manual. For a | ||
197 | discussion specifically on BSP Layers, see the ":ref:`bsp-guide/bsp:BSP | ||
198 | Layers`" section in the Yocto Project Board Support Packages (BSP) | ||
199 | Developer's Guide. | ||
200 | |||
201 | :term:`Metadata` | ||
202 | A key element of the Yocto Project is the Metadata that | ||
203 | is used to construct a Linux distribution and is contained in the | ||
204 | files that the :term:`OpenEmbedded Build System` | ||
205 | parses when building an image. In general, Metadata includes recipes, | ||
206 | configuration files, and other information that refers to the build | ||
207 | instructions themselves, as well as the data used to control what | ||
208 | things get built and the effects of the build. Metadata also includes | ||
209 | commands and data used to indicate what versions of software are | ||
210 | used, from where they are obtained, and changes or additions to the | ||
211 | software itself (patches or auxiliary files) that are used to fix | ||
212 | bugs or customize the software for use in a particular situation. | ||
213 | OpenEmbedded-Core is an important set of validated metadata. | ||
214 | |||
215 | In the context of the kernel ("kernel Metadata"), the term refers to | ||
216 | the kernel config fragments and features contained in the | ||
217 | :yocto_git:`yocto-kernel-cache </yocto-kernel-cache>` | ||
218 | Git repository. | ||
219 | |||
220 | :term:`OpenEmbedded-Core (OE-Core)` | ||
221 | OE-Core is metadata comprised of | ||
222 | foundational recipes, classes, and associated files that are meant to | ||
223 | be common among many different OpenEmbedded-derived systems, | ||
224 | including the Yocto Project. OE-Core is a curated subset of an | ||
225 | original repository developed by the OpenEmbedded community that has | ||
226 | been pared down into a smaller, core set of continuously validated | ||
227 | recipes. The result is a tightly controlled and an quality-assured | ||
228 | core set of recipes. | ||
229 | |||
230 | You can see the Metadata in the ``meta`` directory of the Yocto | ||
231 | Project :yocto_git:`Source Repositories </poky>`. | ||
232 | |||
233 | :term:`OpenEmbedded Build System` | ||
234 | The build system specific to the Yocto | ||
235 | Project. The OpenEmbedded build system is based on another project | ||
236 | known as "Poky", which uses :term:`BitBake` as the task | ||
237 | executor. Throughout the Yocto Project documentation set, the | ||
238 | OpenEmbedded build system is sometimes referred to simply as "the | ||
239 | build system". If other build systems, such as a host or target build | ||
240 | system are referenced, the documentation clearly states the | ||
241 | difference. | ||
242 | |||
243 | .. note:: | ||
244 | |||
245 | For some historical information about Poky, see the :term:`Poky` term. | ||
246 | |||
247 | :term:`Package` | ||
248 | In the context of the Yocto Project, this term refers to a | ||
249 | recipe's packaged output produced by BitBake (i.e. a "baked recipe"). | ||
250 | A package is generally the compiled binaries produced from the | ||
251 | recipe's sources. You "bake" something by running it through BitBake. | ||
252 | |||
253 | It is worth noting that the term "package" can, in general, have | ||
254 | subtle meanings. For example, the packages referred to in the | ||
255 | ":ref:`ref-manual/system-requirements:required packages for the build host`" | ||
256 | section are compiled binaries that, when installed, add functionality to | ||
257 | your Linux distribution. | ||
258 | |||
259 | Another point worth noting is that historically within the Yocto | ||
260 | Project, recipes were referred to as packages - thus, the existence | ||
261 | of several BitBake variables that are seemingly mis-named, (e.g. | ||
262 | :term:`PR`, :term:`PV`, and | ||
263 | :term:`PE`). | ||
264 | |||
265 | :term:`Package Groups` | ||
266 | Arbitrary groups of software Recipes. You use | ||
267 | package groups to hold recipes that, when built, usually accomplish a | ||
268 | single task. For example, a package group could contain the recipes | ||
269 | for a company's proprietary or value-add software. Or, the package | ||
270 | group could contain the recipes that enable graphics. A package group | ||
271 | is really just another recipe. Because package group files are | ||
272 | recipes, they end with the ``.bb`` filename extension. | ||
273 | |||
274 | :term:`Poky` | ||
275 | Poky, which is pronounced *Pock*-ee, is a reference embedded | ||
276 | distribution and a reference test configuration. Poky provides the | ||
277 | following: | ||
278 | |||
279 | - A base-level functional distro used to illustrate how to customize | ||
280 | a distribution. | ||
281 | |||
282 | - A means by which to test the Yocto Project components (i.e. Poky | ||
283 | is used to validate the Yocto Project). | ||
284 | |||
285 | - A vehicle through which you can download the Yocto Project. | ||
286 | |||
287 | Poky is not a product level distro. Rather, it is a good starting | ||
288 | point for customization. | ||
289 | |||
290 | .. note:: | ||
291 | |||
292 | Poky began as an open-source project initially developed by | ||
293 | OpenedHand. OpenedHand developed Poky from the existing | ||
294 | OpenEmbedded build system to create a commercially supportable | ||
295 | build system for embedded Linux. After Intel Corporation acquired | ||
296 | OpenedHand, the poky project became the basis for the Yocto | ||
297 | Project's build system. | ||
298 | |||
299 | :term:`Recipe` | ||
300 | A set of instructions for building packages. A recipe | ||
301 | describes where you get source code, which patches to apply, how to | ||
302 | configure the source, how to compile it and so on. Recipes also | ||
303 | describe dependencies for libraries or for other recipes. Recipes | ||
304 | represent the logical unit of execution, the software to build, the | ||
305 | images to build, and use the ``.bb`` file extension. | ||
306 | |||
307 | :term:`Reference Kit` | ||
308 | A working example of a system, which includes a | ||
309 | :term:`BSP<Board Support Package (BSP)>` as well as a | ||
310 | :term:`build host<Build Host>` and other components, that can | ||
311 | work on specific hardware. | ||
312 | |||
313 | :term:`Source Directory` | ||
314 | This term refers to the directory structure | ||
315 | created as a result of creating a local copy of the ``poky`` Git | ||
316 | repository ``git://git.yoctoproject.org/poky`` or expanding a | ||
317 | released ``poky`` tarball. | ||
318 | |||
319 | .. note:: | ||
320 | |||
321 | Creating a local copy of the | ||
322 | poky | ||
323 | Git repository is the recommended method for setting up your | ||
324 | Source Directory. | ||
325 | |||
326 | Sometimes you might hear the term "poky directory" used to refer to | ||
327 | this directory structure. | ||
328 | |||
329 | .. note:: | ||
330 | |||
331 | The OpenEmbedded build system does not support file or directory | ||
332 | names that contain spaces. Be sure that the Source Directory you | ||
333 | use does not contain these types of names. | ||
334 | |||
335 | The Source Directory contains BitBake, Documentation, Metadata and | ||
336 | other files that all support the Yocto Project. Consequently, you | ||
337 | must have the Source Directory in place on your development system in | ||
338 | order to do any development using the Yocto Project. | ||
339 | |||
340 | When you create a local copy of the Git repository, you can name the | ||
341 | repository anything you like. Throughout much of the documentation, | ||
342 | "poky" is used as the name of the top-level folder of the local copy | ||
343 | of the poky Git repository. So, for example, cloning the ``poky`` Git | ||
344 | repository results in a local Git repository whose top-level folder | ||
345 | is also named "poky". | ||
346 | |||
347 | While it is not recommended that you use tarball expansion to set up | ||
348 | the Source Directory, if you do, the top-level directory name of the | ||
349 | Source Directory is derived from the Yocto Project release tarball. | ||
350 | For example, downloading and unpacking | ||
351 | :yocto_dl:`/releases/yocto/&DISTRO_REL_TAG;/&YOCTO_POKY;.tar.bz2` | ||
352 | results in a Source Directory whose root folder is named ``poky``. | ||
353 | |||
354 | It is important to understand the differences between the Source | ||
355 | Directory created by unpacking a released tarball as compared to | ||
356 | cloning ``git://git.yoctoproject.org/poky``. When you unpack a | ||
357 | tarball, you have an exact copy of the files based on the time of | ||
358 | release - a fixed release point. Any changes you make to your local | ||
359 | files in the Source Directory are on top of the release and will | ||
360 | remain local only. On the other hand, when you clone the ``poky`` Git | ||
361 | repository, you have an active development repository with access to | ||
362 | the upstream repository's branches and tags. In this case, any local | ||
363 | changes you make to the local Source Directory can be later applied | ||
364 | to active development branches of the upstream ``poky`` Git | ||
365 | repository. | ||
366 | |||
367 | For more information on concepts related to Git repositories, | ||
368 | branches, and tags, see the | ||
369 | ":ref:`overview-manual/development-environment:repositories, tags, and branches`" | ||
370 | section in the Yocto Project Overview and Concepts Manual. | ||
371 | |||
372 | :term:`Task` | ||
373 | A unit of execution for BitBake (e.g. | ||
374 | :ref:`ref-tasks-compile`, | ||
375 | :ref:`ref-tasks-fetch`, | ||
376 | :ref:`ref-tasks-patch`, and so forth). | ||
377 | |||
378 | :term:`Toaster` | ||
379 | A web interface to the Yocto Project's :term:`OpenEmbedded Build System`. | ||
380 | The interface enables you to | ||
381 | configure and run your builds. Information about builds is collected | ||
382 | and stored in a database. For information on Toaster, see the | ||
383 | :doc:`/toaster-manual/index`. | ||
384 | |||
385 | :term:`Upstream` | ||
386 | A reference to source code or repositories that are not | ||
387 | local to the development system but located in a master area that is | ||
388 | controlled by the maintainer of the source code. For example, in | ||
389 | order for a developer to work on a particular piece of code, they | ||
390 | need to first get a copy of it from an "upstream" source. | ||