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<!DOCTYPE chapter PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.2//EN"
"http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.2/docbookx.dtd"
[<!ENTITY % poky SYSTEM "../poky.ent"> %poky; ] >
<chapter id='kernel-dev-intro'>
<title>Introduction</title>
<section id='kernel-dev-overview'>
<title>Overview</title>
<para>
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
<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#metadata'>Metadata</ulink>,
describes common tasks you can perform using the kernel tools,
and shows you how to use the kernel Metadata needed to work with
the kernel inside the Yocto Project.
</para>
<para>
Each Yocto Project release has a set of linux-yocto recipes, whose
Git repositories you can view in the Yocto
<ulink url='&YOCTO_GIT_URL;'>Source Repositories</ulink> 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.
Also included is a linux-yocto development recipe
(<filename>linux-yocto-dev.bb</filename>) should you want to work
with the very latest in upstream Linux kernel development and
kernel Metadata development.
</para>
<para>
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.
</para>
<para>
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 <filename>CONFIG</filename> options as presented by the Linux
kernel <filename>menuconfig</filename> system.
Contrast this against a complete Linux kernel
<filename>.config</filename>, which includes all the automatically
selected <filename>CONFIG</filename> 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 <filename>proc</filename> and <filename>sys</filename> 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.
</para>
<para>
If you do not maintain your own kernel sources and need to make
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
Yocto Project.
</para>
<para>
If, instead, you have a very specific Linux kernel source tree
and are unable to align with one of the official linux-yocto
recipes, an alternative exists by which you can use the Yocto
Project Linux kernel tools with your own kernel sources.
</para>
</section>
<section id='kernel-dev-other-resources'>
<title>Other Resources</title>
<para>
The sections that follow provide instructions for completing
specific Linux kernel development tasks.
These instructions assume you are comfortable working with
<ulink url='http://developer.berlios.de/projects/bitbake/'>BitBake</ulink>
recipes and basic open-source development tools.
Understanding these concepts will facilitate the process of working
with the kernel recipes.
If you find you need some additional background, please be sure to
review and understand the following documentation:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_QS_URL;'>Yocto Project Quick Start</ulink>
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>The "<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#modifying-temporary-source-code'>Modifying Temporary Source Code</ulink>"
section in the Yocto Project Development Manual
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>The "<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#understanding-and-creating-layers'>Understanding and Creating Layers</ulink>" section
in the Yocto Project Development Manual</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>The "<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_DEV_URL;#modifying-the-kernel'>Modifying the Kernel</ulink>" section
in the Yocto Project Development Manual.</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
<para>
Finally, while this document focuses on the manual creation of
recipes, patches, and configuration files, the Yocto Project
Board Support Package (BSP) tools are available to automate
this process with existing content and work well to create the
initial framework and boilerplate code.
For details on these tools, see the
"<ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_BSP_URL;#using-the-yocto-projects-bsp-tools'>Using the Yocto Project's BSP Tools</ulink>"
section in the Yocto Project Board Support Package (BSP) Developer's
Guide.
</para>
</section>
</chapter>
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