7. Build System

Figure 7.1 OpenEmbedded Build System Concepts as part of Yocto Build System Workflow

In general, the build’s workflow consists of several functional areas:

User Configuration

Setup values you can use to control the build process.

Metadata Layers

Various layers that provide software, machine, and distro metadata.

Source Files

Upstream releases, local projects, and SCMS.

Package Feeds

Directories containing output packages (RPM, DEB or IPK), which are subsequently used in the construction of an image or Software Development Kit (SDK), produced by the build system. These feeds can also be copied and shared using a web server or other means to facilitate extending or updating existing images on devices at runtime if runtime package management is enabled.

BitBake Tool

Processes under the control of BitBake. This block expands on how BitBake fetches source, applies patches, completes compilation, analyzes output for package generation, creates and tests packages, generates images, and generates cross-development tools.

Images

Images produced by the build system workflow.

Application Development SDK

Cross-development tools that are produced along with an image or separately with BitBake.