From 467cb3d32e32ba77bb9ff06865a48d02ec17b9c4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Scott Rifenbark Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2013 13:38:30 -0600 Subject: kernel-dev: Edits to the introduction chapter. I did some re-writing for better understanding based on what I know. (From yocto-docs rev: fc3adb037ac07a90dfbba6b76643391480e0bce5) Signed-off-by: Scott Rifenbark Signed-off-by: Richard Purdie --- documentation/kernel-dev/kernel-dev-intro.xml | 87 +++++++++++++++++---------- 1 file changed, 56 insertions(+), 31 deletions(-) (limited to 'documentation/kernel-dev/kernel-dev-intro.xml') diff --git a/documentation/kernel-dev/kernel-dev-intro.xml b/documentation/kernel-dev/kernel-dev-intro.xml index 67d8d93f08..32a4040e4b 100644 --- a/documentation/kernel-dev/kernel-dev-intro.xml +++ b/documentation/kernel-dev/kernel-dev-intro.xml @@ -3,44 +3,69 @@ [ %poky; ] > - Introduction - - Regardless of how you intend to make use of the Yocto Project, - chances are you are going to need to work with the Linux kernel. - The Yocto Project provides a powerful set of tools for managing - Linux kernel sources and configuration data. - You can use this tooling to help you make a single configuration change, - apply a couple of patches, or work with your own sources. - - - - The Yocto Project Kernel Development Manual describes common tasks - you can perform using the kernel tooling as well as provides information - about the metadata needed to work with the kernel inside the - Yocto Project. - - -
- Background +
+ Overview - Each Yocto Project release introduces a new set of linux-yocto - kernel recipes that tracks the latest upstream developments and - introduces newly supported platforms. - In addition to the new kernel recipes, the previous recipes are - refreshed and supported for at least one additional release. + Regardless of how you intend to make use of the Yocto Project, + chances are you will work with the Linux kernel. + This manual provides background information on the Yocto Linux kernel + Metadata, + describes common tasks you can perform using the kernel tools, + and shows you how to use the Metadata needed to work with + the kernel inside the Yocto Project. + + + + Each Yocto Project release has a set of linux-yocto recipes, whose + Git repositories you can view in the Yocto + Source Repositories under + the "Yocto Linux Kernel" heading. + New recipes for the release track the latest upstream developments + and introduce newly supported platforms. + Previous recipes in the release are refreshed and supported for at + least one additional release. As they align, these previous releases are updated to include the latest from the Long Term Support Initiative (LTSI) project. - Besides these recipes, a linux-yocto-dev.bb - recipe is available for working with the very latest in upstream - Linux kernel development as well as metadata development. + Also included is a linux-yocto development recipe + (linux-yocto-dev.bb) should you want to work + with the very latest in upstream Linux kernel development and + Metadata development. + + + + The Yocto Project also provides a powerful set of kernel + tools for managing Linux kernel sources and configuration data. + You can use these tools to make a single configuration change, + apply multiple patches, or work with your own kernel sources. + + + + In particular, the kernel tools allow you to generate configuration + fragments that specify only what you must, and nothing more. + Configuration fragments only need to contain the highest level + visible CONFIG options as presented by the Linux + kernel menuconfig system. + Contrast this against a complete Linux kernel + .config, which includes all the automatically + selected CONFIG options. + This efficiency reduces your maintenance effort and allows you + to further separate your configuration in ways that make sense for + your project. + A common split separates policy and hardware. + For example, all your kernels might support + the proc and sys filesystems, + but only specific boards require sound, USB, or specific drivers. + Specifying these configurations individually allows you to aggregate + them together as needed, but maintains them in only one place. + Similar logic applies to separating source changes. If you do not maintain your own kernel sources and need to make - only minimal changes to the sources, these recipes provide a + only minimal changes to the sources, the released recipes provide a vetted base upon which to layer your changes. Doing so allows you to benefit from the continual kernel integration and testing performed during development of the @@ -50,8 +75,8 @@ If, instead, you have a very specific Linux kernel source tree and are unable to align with one of the many official linux-yocto - releases, an alternative exists by which you can use the Yocto - Project Linux kernel tools with your own sources. + recipes, an alternative exists by which you can use the Yocto + Project Linux kernel tools with your own kernel sources.
@@ -61,7 +86,7 @@ The sections that follow provide instructions for completing specific Linux kernel development tasks. - These instructions assume you are familiar with working with + These instructions assume you are comfortable working with BitBake recipes and basic open-source development tools. Understanding these concepts will facilitate the process of working -- cgit v1.2.3-54-g00ecf