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Embedded Linux Development using Yocto Projects
Embedded Linux Development using Yocto Projects

Embedded Linux Development using Yocto Projects: Learn to leverage the power of Yocto Project to build efficient Linux-based products , Second Edition

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Profile Icon Otavio Salvador Profile Icon Angolini
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Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon Empty star icon 3.4 (5 Ratings)
Paperback Nov 2017 162 pages 2nd Edition
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Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Otavio Salvador Profile Icon Angolini
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Paperback Nov 2017 162 pages 2nd Edition
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Embedded Linux Development using Yocto Projects

Baking Our Poky-Based System

In this chapter we will understand the basic concepts involved in the Poky workflow. Let's get our hands dirty with the steps to download and configure, prepare the Poky build environment, and bake something usable. The steps covered here are commonly used for testing and development. They give us the whole experience of using Poky and a taste of its capabilities.

Configuring a host system

The process that we need to set up on our host system depends on the distribution we run on it. Poky has a set of supported Linux distributions, and if we are new to embedded Linux development, it is advisable to use one of the supported Linux distributions to avoid wasting time debugging build issues related to the host system support.

If you use the current release of one of following distributions, you should be good:

  • Ubuntu
  • Fedora
  • CentOS
  • Debian
  • openSUSE

To confirm if your version is supported, it is advisable to check the official documentation online at http://www.yoctoproject.org/docs/current/mega-manual/mega-manual.html#detailed-supported-distros.

If your preferred distribution is not on the preceding list, it doesn't mean it is not possible to use Poky on it. However, it is unknown whether it will work, and we may get unexpected results...

Downloading the Poky source code

After we install the needed packages into our development host system, we need to get the Poky source code that can be downloaded with Git by using the following command:

$ git clone git://git.yoctoproject.org/poky -b rocko
Learn more about Git at http://git-scm.com.

After the download process is complete, we should have the following contents inside the poky directory:

The examples and code presented in this and the next chapters use the Yocto Project Version 2.4. The code name is Rocko, as the reference.

Preparing the build environment

Inside the poky directory, there is a script named oe-init-build-env, which should be used to set up the building environment. The script must be run as shown:

$ source oe-init-build-env [build-directory]

Here, build-directory is an optional parameter for the name of the directory where the environment is set; in case it is not given, it defaults to build. The build-directory is the place where we perform the builds.

It is very convenient to use different build directories. We can work on distinct projects in parallel or different experimental setups without affecting our other builds.

Throughout the book, we will use build as the build directory. When we need to point to a file inside the build directory, we will adopt the same convention, for example, build/conf/local.conf.

Knowing the local.conf file

When we initialize a build environment, it creates a file called build/conf/local.conf, which is a powerful tool that can configure almost every aspect of the build process. We can set the machine we are building for, the toolchain host architecture to be used for a custom cross-toolchain, optimize options for maximum build time reduction, and so on. The comments inside the build/conf/local.conf file are a very good documentation and reference of possible variables, and their defaults. The minimal set of variables that we probably want to change from the default is the following:

MACHINE ??= "qemux86"

The MACHINE variable is where we determine the target machine we wish to build for. At the time of writing this book, Poky supports the following machines in its reference BSP:

  • beaglebone: This is BeagleBone, that is the reference platform for...

Building a target image

Poky provides several predesigned image recipes that we can use to build our own binary image. We can check the list of available images by running the following command from the poky directory:

$ ls meta*/recipes*/images/*.bb

All the recipes provide images which are a set of unpacked and configured packages, generating a filesystem that we can use on a hardware or one of the supported QEMU machines.

Next, we can see the list of most commonly used images:

  • core-image-minimal: This is a small image allowing a device to boot, and it is very useful for kernel and boot loader tests and development.
  • core-image-base: This is a console-only image that fully supports the target device hardware.
  • core-image-weston: This is an image that provides the Wayland protocol libraries and the reference Weston compositor.
  • core-image-x11: This is a very basic X11 image with...

Configuring a host system


The process that we need to set up on our host system depends on the distribution we run on it. Poky has a set of supported Linux distributions, and if we are new to embedded Linux development, it is advisable to use one of the supported Linux distributions to avoid wasting time debugging build issues related to the host system support.

If you use the current release of one of following distributions, you should be good:

  • Ubuntu
  • Fedora
  • CentOS
  • Debian
  • openSUSE

To confirm if your version is supported, it is advisable to check the official documentation online at http://www.yoctoproject.org/docs/current/mega-manual/mega-manual.html#detailed-supported-distros.

If your preferred distribution is not on the preceding list, it doesn't mean it is not possible to use Poky on it. However, it is unknown whether it will work, and we may get unexpected results.

The packages that need to be installed into the host system vary from one distribution to another. Throughout this book, you will...

Downloading the Poky source code


After we install the needed packages into our development host system, we need to get the Poky source code that can be downloaded with Git by using the following command:

$ git clone git://git.yoctoproject.org/poky -b rocko

Note

Learn more about Git at http://git-scm.com.

After the download process is complete, we should have the following contents inside the poky directory:

Note

The examples and code presented in this and the next chapters use the Yocto Project Version 2.4. The code name is Rocko, as the reference.

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Key benefits

  • Optimize your Yocto Project tools to develop efficient Linux-based projects
  • Practical approach to learning Linux development using Yocto Project
  • Demonstrates concepts in a practical and easy-to-understand way

Description

Yocto Project is turning out to be the best integration framework for creating reliable embedded Linux projects. It has the edge over other frameworks because of its features such as less development time and improved reliability and robustness. Embedded Linux Development using Yocto Project starts with an in-depth explanation of all Yocto Project tools, to help you perform different Linux-based tasks. The book then moves on to in-depth explanations of Poky and BitBake. It also includes some practical use cases for building a Linux subsystem project using Yocto Project tools available for embedded Linux. The book also covers topics such as SDK, recipetool, and others. By the end of the book, you will have learned how to generate and run an image for real hardware boards and will have gained hands-on experience at building efficient Linux systems using Yocto Project.

Who is this book for?

If you are an embedded Linux developer with a basic knowledge of Yocto Project and want to broaden your knowledge with examples of embedded development, then this book is for you. This book is also for professionals who want to find new insights into working methodologies for Linux development.

What you will learn

  • Understand the basic concepts involved in Poky workflows along with configuring and preparing the Poky build environment
  • Configure a build server and customize images using Toaster
  • Generate images and fit packages into created images using BitBake
  • Support the development process by setting up and using Package feeds
  • Debug Yocto Project by configuring Poky
  • Build an image for the BeagleBone Black, RaspberryPi 3, and Wandboard, and boot it from an SD card

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Nov 16, 2017
Length: 162 pages
Edition : 2nd
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781788470469
Vendor :
Linux Foundation
Category :
Tools :

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Product Details

Publication date : Nov 16, 2017
Length: 162 pages
Edition : 2nd
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781788470469
Vendor :
Linux Foundation
Category :
Tools :

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Table of Contents

14 Chapters
Meeting the Yocto Project Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Baking Our Poky-Based System Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Using Toaster to Bake an Image Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Grasping the BitBake Tool Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Detailing the Temporary Build Directory Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Assimilating Packaging Support Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Diving into BitBake Metadata Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Developing with the Yocto Project Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Debugging with the Yocto Project Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Exploring External Layers Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Creating Custom Layers Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Customizing Existing Recipes Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Achieving GPL Compliance Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Booting Our Custom Embedded Linux Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon Empty star icon 3.4
(5 Ratings)
5 star 40%
4 star 0%
3 star 40%
2 star 0%
1 star 20%
TheLam Nguyen May 20, 2020
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
good book
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Rogerio Pimentel da Silva Dec 07, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This book makes clean the concept of Yocto that sometimes is difficult to understand reading the available documents on the internet. It has a comprehensive language with a theorical and practical content. I already used the first edition in my daily consults for my projects, now this second edition has updated information.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Emil Dec 01, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3
Very basic. Only recommend for novice that hasn't read the yoctoproject.org online docs.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
A. Reader Jun 08, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3
This book starts out with a nice overview, but quickly becomes frustratingly superficial. Repeated are sections with maybe a single command given with minimal context and a link for more information, only later to be confusingly described as "going in to detail". There is still value to be gained by going cover-to-cover, plenty of "ah-ha" moments - breadth of the project will be gained, however I'm left with not much more.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Placeholder May 16, 2018
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
book has MRP of 599, i dont know how the are giving 85%discount
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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