--- 3.9 Dependency tracking
--- 3.10 Special Rules
--- 3.11 $(CC) support functions
+ --- 3.12 $(LD) support functions
=== 4 Host Program support
--- 4.1 Simple Host Program
--- 4.2 Composite Host Programs
- --- 4.3 Defining shared libraries
+ --- 4.3 Defining shared libraries
--- 4.4 Using C++ for host programs
--- 4.5 Controlling compiler options for host programs
--- 4.6 When host programs are actually built
--- 6.1 Set variables to tweak the build to the architecture
--- 6.2 Add prerequisites to archprepare:
--- 6.3 List directories to visit when descending
- --- 6.4 Architecture specific boot images
+ --- 6.4 Architecture-specific boot images
--- 6.5 Building non-kbuild targets
--- 6.6 Commands useful for building a boot image
--- 6.7 Custom kbuild commands
--- 6.8 Preprocessing linker scripts
- === 7 Kbuild Variables
- === 8 Makefile language
- === 9 Credits
- === 10 TODO
+ === 7 Kbuild syntax for exported headers
+ --- 7.1 header-y
+ --- 7.2 objhdr-y
+ --- 7.3 destination-y
+ --- 7.4 unifdef-y (deprecated)
+
+ === 8 Kbuild Variables
+ === 9 Makefile language
+ === 10 Credits
+ === 11 TODO
=== 1 Overview
Each subdirectory has a kbuild Makefile which carries out the commands
passed down from above. The kbuild Makefile uses information from the
-.config file to construct various file lists used by kbuild to build
+.config file to construct various file lists used by kbuild to build
any built-in or modular targets.
scripts/Makefile.* contains all the definitions/rules etc. that
Example:
obj-y += foo.o
- This tell kbuild that there is one object in that directory, named
+ This tells kbuild that there is one object in that directory, named
foo.o. foo.o will be built from foo.c or foo.S.
If foo.o shall be built as a module, the variable obj-m is used.
Example:
#fs/ext2/Makefile
obj-$(CONFIG_EXT2_FS) += ext2.o
- ext2-y := balloc.o bitmap.o
+ ext2-y := balloc.o bitmap.o
ext2-$(CONFIG_EXT2_FS_XATTR) += xattr.o
-
+
In this example, xattr.o is only part of the composite object
ext2.o if $(CONFIG_EXT2_FS_XATTR) evaluates to 'y'.
be included in a library, lib.a.
All objects listed with lib-y are combined in a single
library for that directory.
- Objects that are listed in obj-y and additionaly listed in
- lib-y will not be included in the library, since they will anyway
- be accessible.
+ Objects that are listed in obj-y and additionally listed in
+ lib-y will not be included in the library, since they will
+ be accessible anyway.
For consistency, objects listed in lib-m will be included in lib.a.
Note that the same kbuild makefile may list files to be built-in
For kbuild to actually recognize that there is a lib.a being built,
the directory shall be listed in libs-y.
See also "6.3 List directories to visit when descending".
-
+
Use of lib-y is normally restricted to lib/ and arch/*/lib.
--- 3.6 Descending down in directories
--- 3.7 Compilation flags
- EXTRA_CFLAGS, EXTRA_AFLAGS, EXTRA_LDFLAGS, EXTRA_ARFLAGS
+ ccflags-y, asflags-y and ldflags-y
+ The three flags listed above applies only to the kbuild makefile
+ where they are assigned. They are used for all the normal
+ cc, as and ld invocation happenign during a recursive build.
+ Note: Flags with the same behaviour were previously named:
+ EXTRA_CFLAGS, EXTRA_AFLAGS and EXTRA_LDFLAGS.
+ They are yet supported but their use are deprecated.
- All the EXTRA_ variables apply only to the kbuild makefile
- where they are assigned. The EXTRA_ variables apply to all
- commands executed in the kbuild makefile.
-
- $(EXTRA_CFLAGS) specifies options for compiling C files with
- $(CC).
+ ccflags-y specifies options for compiling C files with $(CC).
Example:
# drivers/sound/emu10k1/Makefile
- EXTRA_CFLAGS += -I$(obj)
- ifdef DEBUG
- EXTRA_CFLAGS += -DEMU10K1_DEBUG
- endif
+ ccflags-y += -I$(obj)
+ ccflags-$(DEBUG) += -DEMU10K1_DEBUG
This variable is necessary because the top Makefile owns the
- variable $(CFLAGS) and uses it for compilation flags for the
+ variable $(KBUILD_CFLAGS) and uses it for compilation flags for the
entire tree.
- $(EXTRA_AFLAGS) is a similar string for per-directory options
+ asflags-y is a similar string for per-directory options
when compiling assembly language source.
Example:
#arch/x86_64/kernel/Makefile
- EXTRA_AFLAGS := -traditional
+ asflags-y := -traditional
- $(EXTRA_LDFLAGS) and $(EXTRA_ARFLAGS) are similar strings for
- per-directory options to $(LD) and $(AR).
+ ldflags-y is a string for per-directory options to $(LD).
Example:
#arch/m68k/fpsp040/Makefile
- EXTRA_LDFLAGS := -x
+ ldflags-y := -x
+
+ subdir-ccflags-y, subdir-asflags-y
+ The two flags listed above are similar to ccflags-y and as-falgs-y.
+ The difference is that the subdir- variants has effect for the kbuild
+ file where tey are present and all subdirectories.
+ Options specified using subdir-* are added to the commandline before
+ the options specified using the non-subdir variants.
+
+ Example:
+ subdir-ccflags-y := -Werror
CFLAGS_$@, AFLAGS_$@
Special rules are used when the kbuild infrastructure does
not provide the required support. A typical example is
header files generated during the build process.
- Another example are the architecture specific Makefiles which
+ Another example are the architecture-specific Makefiles which
need special rules to prepare boot images etc.
Special rules are written as normal Make rules.
to prerequisites are referenced with $(src) (because they are not
generated files).
+ $(kecho)
+ echoing information to user in a rule is often a good practice
+ but when execution "make -s" one does not expect to see any output
+ except for warnings/errors.
+ To support this kbuild define $(kecho) which will echo out the
+ text following $(kecho) to stdout except if "make -s" is used.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/blackfin/boot/Makefile
+ $(obj)/vmImage: $(obj)/vmlinux.gz
+ $(call if_changed,uimage)
+ @$(kecho) 'Kernel: $@ is ready'
+
+
--- 3.11 $(CC) support functions
The kernel may be built with several different versions of
$(CC), each supporting a unique set of features and options.
kbuild provide basic support to check for valid options for $(CC).
- $(CC) is useally the gcc compiler, but other alternatives are
+ $(CC) is usually the gcc compiler, but other alternatives are
available.
as-option
The second argument is optional, and if supplied will be used
if first argument is not supported.
- ld-option
- ld-option is used to check if $(CC) when used to link object files
+ cc-ldoption
+ cc-ldoption is used to check if $(CC) when used to link object files
supports the given option. An optional second option may be
specified if first option are not supported.
Example:
#arch/i386/kernel/Makefile
- vsyscall-flags += $(call ld-option, -Wl$(comma)--hash-style=sysv)
+ vsyscall-flags += $(call cc-ldoption, -Wl$(comma)--hash-style=sysv)
- In the above example vsyscall-flags will be assigned the option
+ In the above example, vsyscall-flags will be assigned the option
-Wl$(comma)--hash-style=sysv if it is supported by $(CC).
The second argument is optional, and if supplied will be used
if first argument is not supported.
+ as-instr
+ as-instr checks if the assembler reports a specific instruction
+ and then outputs either option1 or option2
+ C escapes are supported in the test instruction
+ Note: as-instr-option uses KBUILD_AFLAGS for $(AS) options
+
cc-option
cc-option is used to check if $(CC) supports a given option, and not
supported to use an optional second option.
#arch/i386/Makefile
cflags-y += $(call cc-option,-march=pentium-mmx,-march=i586)
- In the above example cflags-y will be assigned the option
+ In the above example, cflags-y will be assigned the option
-march=pentium-mmx if supported by $(CC), otherwise -march=i586.
The second argument to cc-option is optional, and if omitted,
cflags-y will be assigned no value if first option is not supported.
+ Note: cc-option uses KBUILD_CFLAGS for $(CC) options
cc-option-yn
- cc-option-yn is used to check if gcc supports a given option
+ cc-option-yn is used to check if gcc supports a given option
and return 'y' if supported, otherwise 'n'.
Example:
biarch := $(call cc-option-yn, -m32)
aflags-$(biarch) += -a32
cflags-$(biarch) += -m32
-
+
In the above example, $(biarch) is set to y if $(CC) supports the -m32
option. When $(biarch) equals 'y', the expanded variables $(aflags-y)
and $(cflags-y) will be assigned the values -a32 and -m32,
respectively.
+ Note: cc-option-yn uses KBUILD_CFLAGS for $(CC) options
cc-option-align
gcc versions >= 3.0 changed the type of options used to specify
cc-option-align = -malign
gcc >= 3.00
cc-option-align = -falign
-
+
Example:
- CFLAGS += $(cc-option-align)-functions=4
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(cc-option-align)-functions=4
In the above example, the option -falign-functions=4 is used for
gcc >= 3.00. For gcc < 3.00, -malign-functions=4 is used.
-
+ Note: cc-option-align uses KBUILD_CFLAGS for $(CC) options
+
cc-version
cc-version returns a numerical version of the $(CC) compiler version.
The format is <major><minor> where both are two digits. So for example
Example:
#fs/reiserfs/Makefile
- EXTRA_CFLAGS := $(call cc-ifversion, -lt, 0402, -O1)
+ ccflags-y := $(call cc-ifversion, -lt, 0402, -O1)
- In this example, EXTRA_CFLAGS will be assigned the value -O1 if the
+ In this example, ccflags-y will be assigned the value -O1 if the
$(CC) version is less than 4.2.
- cc-ifversion takes all the shell operators:
+ cc-ifversion takes all the shell operators:
-eq, -ne, -lt, -le, -gt, and -ge
The third parameter may be a text as in this example, but it may also
be an expanded variable or a macro.
+ cc-fullversion
+ cc-fullversion is useful when the exact version of gcc is needed.
+ One typical use-case is when a specific GCC version is broken.
+ cc-fullversion points out a more specific version than cc-version does.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/powerpc/Makefile
+ $(Q)if test "$(call cc-fullversion)" = "040200" ; then \
+ echo -n '*** GCC-4.2.0 cannot compile the 64-bit powerpc ' ; \
+ false ; \
+ fi
+
+ In this example for a specific GCC version the build will error out explaining
+ to the user why it stops.
+
+ cc-cross-prefix
+ cc-cross-prefix is used to check if there exists a $(CC) in path with
+ one of the listed prefixes. The first prefix where there exist a
+ prefix$(CC) in the PATH is returned - and if no prefix$(CC) is found
+ then nothing is returned.
+ Additional prefixes are separated by a single space in the
+ call of cc-cross-prefix.
+ This functionality is useful for architecture Makefiles that try
+ to set CROSS_COMPILE to well-known values but may have several
+ values to select between.
+ It is recommended only to try to set CROSS_COMPILE if it is a cross
+ build (host arch is different from target arch). And if CROSS_COMPILE
+ is already set then leave it with the old value.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/m68k/Makefile
+ ifneq ($(SUBARCH),$(ARCH))
+ ifeq ($(CROSS_COMPILE),)
+ CROSS_COMPILE := $(call cc-cross-prefix, m68k-linux-gnu-)
+ endif
+ endif
+
+--- 3.12 $(LD) support functions
+
+ ld-option
+ ld-option is used to check if $(LD) supports the supplied option.
+ ld-option takes two options as arguments.
+ The second argument is an optional option that can be used if the
+ first option is not supported by $(LD).
+
+ Example:
+ #Makefile
+ LDFLAGS_vmlinux += $(call really-ld-option, -X)
+
=== 4 Host Program support
done utilising the variable hostprogs-y.
The second step is to add an explicit dependency to the executable.
-This can be done in two ways. Either add the dependency in a rule,
+This can be done in two ways. Either add the dependency in a rule,
or utilise the variable $(always).
Both possibilities are described in the following.
Kbuild assumes in the above example that bin2hex is made from a single
c-source file named bin2hex.c located in the same directory as
the Makefile.
-
+
--- 4.2 Composite Host Programs
Host programs can be made up based on composite objects.
The syntax used to define composite objects for host programs is
similar to the syntax used for kernel objects.
- $(<executeable>-objs) lists all objects used to link the final
+ $(<executable>-objs) lists all objects used to link the final
executable.
Example:
#scripts/lxdialog/Makefile
- hostprogs-y := lxdialog
+ hostprogs-y := lxdialog
lxdialog-objs := checklist.o lxdialog.o
Objects with extension .o are compiled from the corresponding .c
Finally, the two .o files are linked to the executable, lxdialog.
Note: The syntax <executable>-y is not permitted for host-programs.
---- 4.3 Defining shared libraries
-
+--- 4.3 Defining shared libraries
+
Objects with extension .so are considered shared libraries, and
will be compiled as position independent objects.
Kbuild provides support for shared libraries, but the usage
hostprogs-y := conf
conf-objs := conf.o libkconfig.so
libkconfig-objs := expr.o type.o
-
+
Shared libraries always require a corresponding -objs line, and
in the example above the shared library libkconfig is composed by
the two objects expr.o and type.o.
In the example above the executable is composed of the C++ file
qconf.cc - identified by $(qconf-cxxobjs).
-
+
If qconf is composed by a mixture of .c and .cc files, then an
additional line can be used to identify this.
hostprogs-y := qconf
qconf-cxxobjs := qconf.o
qconf-objs := check.o
-
+
--- 4.5 Controlling compiler options for host programs
When compiling host programs, it is possible to set specific flags.
Example:
#scripts/lxdialog/Makefile
HOST_EXTRACFLAGS += -I/usr/include/ncurses
-
+
To set specific flags for a single file the following construction
is used:
Example:
#arch/ppc64/boot/Makefile
HOSTCFLAGS_piggyback.o := -DKERNELBASE=$(KERNELBASE)
-
+
It is also possible to specify additional options to the linker.
-
+
Example:
#scripts/kconfig/Makefile
HOSTLOADLIBES_qconf := -L$(QTDIR)/lib
When linking qconf, it will be passed the extra option
"-L$(QTDIR)/lib".
-
+
--- 4.6 When host programs are actually built
Kbuild will only build host-programs when they are referenced
$(obj)/devlist.h: $(src)/pci.ids $(obj)/gen-devlist
( cd $(obj); ./gen-devlist ) < $<
- The target $(obj)/devlist.h will not be built before
+ The target $(obj)/devlist.h will not be built before
$(obj)/gen-devlist is updated. Note that references to
the host programs in special rules must be prefixed with $(obj).
--- 4.7 Using hostprogs-$(CONFIG_FOO)
- A typcal pattern in a Kbuild file looks like this:
+ A typical pattern in a Kbuild file looks like this:
Example:
#scripts/Makefile
be deleted. Kbuild will assume files to be in same relative directory as the
Makefile except if an absolute path is specified (path starting with '/').
-To delete a directory hirachy use:
+To delete a directory hierarchy use:
+
Example:
#scripts/package/Makefile
clean-dirs := $(objtree)/debian/
5) Recursively descend down in all directories listed in
init-* core* drivers-* net-* libs-* and build all targets.
- The values of the above variables are expanded in arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile.
-6) All object files are then linked and the resulting file vmlinux is
+6) All object files are then linked and the resulting file vmlinux is
located at the root of the obj tree.
The very first objects linked are listed in head-y, assigned by
arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile.
-7) Finally, the architecture specific part does any required post processing
+7) Finally, the architecture-specific part does any required post processing
and builds the final bootimage.
- This includes building boot records
- - Preparing initrd images and thelike
+ - Preparing initrd images and the like
--- 6.1 Set variables to tweak the build to the architecture
Example:
#arch/s390/Makefile
LDFLAGS := -m elf_s390
- Note: EXTRA_LDFLAGS and LDFLAGS_$@ can be used to further customise
- the flags used. See chapter 7.
-
+ Note: ldflags-y can be used to further customise
+ the flags used. See chapter 3.7.
+
LDFLAGS_MODULE Options for $(LD) when linking modules
LDFLAGS_MODULE is used to set specific flags for $(LD) when
In this example, the binary $(obj)/image is a binary version of
vmlinux. The usage of $(call if_changed,xxx) will be described later.
- AFLAGS $(AS) assembler flags
+ KBUILD_AFLAGS $(AS) assembler flags
Default value - see top level Makefile
Append or modify as required per architecture.
Example:
#arch/sparc64/Makefile
- AFLAGS += -m64 -mcpu=ultrasparc
+ KBUILD_AFLAGS += -m64 -mcpu=ultrasparc
- CFLAGS $(CC) compiler flags
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS $(CC) compiler flags
Default value - see top level Makefile
Append or modify as required per architecture.
- Often, the CFLAGS variable depends on the configuration.
+ Often, the KBUILD_CFLAGS variable depends on the configuration.
Example:
#arch/i386/Makefile
cflags-$(CONFIG_M386) += -march=i386
- CFLAGS += $(cflags-y)
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(cflags-y)
Many arch Makefiles dynamically run the target C compiler to
probe supported options:
-march=pentium2,-march=i686)
...
# Disable unit-at-a-time mode ...
- CFLAGS += $(call cc-option,-fno-unit-at-a-time)
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(call cc-option,-fno-unit-at-a-time)
...
$(CFLAGS_MODULE) contains extra C compiler flags used to compile code
for loadable kernel modules.
-
+
--- 6.2 Add prerequisites to archprepare:
The archprepare: rule is used to list prerequisites that need to be
corresponding arch-specific section for modules; the module-building
machinery is all architecture-independent.
-
+
head-y, init-y, core-y, libs-y, drivers-y, net-y
$(head-y) lists objects to be linked first in vmlinux.
$(libs-y) lists directories where a lib.a archive can be located.
- The rest lists directories where a built-in.o object file can be
+ The rest list directories where a built-in.o object file can be
located.
$(init-y) objects will be located after $(head-y).
$(core-y), $(libs-y), $(drivers-y) and $(net-y).
The top level Makefile defines values for all generic directories,
- and arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile only adds architecture specific directories.
+ and arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile only adds architecture-specific directories.
Example:
#arch/sparc64/Makefile
drivers-$(CONFIG_OPROFILE) += arch/sparc64/oprofile/
---- 6.4 Architecture specific boot images
+--- 6.4 Architecture-specific boot images
An arch Makefile specifies goals that take the vmlinux file, compress
it, wrap it in bootstrapping code, and copy the resulting files
"$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=<dir>" is the recommended way to invoke
make in a subdirectory.
- There are no rules for naming architecture specific targets,
+ There are no rules for naming architecture-specific targets,
but executing "make help" will list all relevant targets.
To support this, $(archhelp) must be defined.
#arch/i386/Makefile
define archhelp
echo '* bzImage - Image (arch/$(ARCH)/boot/bzImage)'
- endef
+ endif
When make is executed without arguments, the first goal encountered
will be built. In the top level Makefile the first goal present
Example:
#arch/i386/Makefile
- all: bzImage
+ all: bzImage
When "make" is executed without arguments, bzImage will be built.
In this example, extra-y is used to list object files that
shall be built, but shall not be linked as part of built-in.o.
-
+
--- 6.6 Commands useful for building a boot image
Kbuild provides a few macros that are useful when building a
$(call if_changed,ld/objcopy/gzip)
When the rule is evaluated, it is checked to see if any files
- needs an update, or the command line has changed since the last
+ need an update, or the command line has changed since the last
invocation. The latter will force a rebuild if any options
to the executable have changed.
Any target that utilises if_changed must be listed in $(targets),
ld
Link target. Often, LDFLAGS_$@ is used to set specific options to ld.
-
+
objcopy
Copy binary. Uses OBJCOPYFLAGS usually specified in
arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile.
In this example, there are two possible targets, requiring different
options to the linker. The linker options are specified using the
LDFLAGS_$@ syntax - one for each potential target.
- $(targets) are assinged all potential targets, by which kbuild knows
+ $(targets) are assigned all potential targets, by which kbuild knows
the targets and will:
1) check for commandline changes
2) delete target during make clean
BUILD arch/i386/boot/bzImage
will be displayed with "make KBUILD_VERBOSE=0".
-
+
--- 6.8 Preprocessing linker scripts
The script is a preprocessed variant of the file vmlinux.lds.S
located in the same directory.
kbuild knows .lds files and includes a rule *lds.S -> *lds.
-
+
Example:
#arch/i386/kernel/Makefile
always := vmlinux.lds
-
+
#Makefile
export CPPFLAGS_vmlinux.lds += -P -C -U$(ARCH)
-
- The assigment to $(always) is used to tell kbuild to build the
+
+ The assignment to $(always) is used to tell kbuild to build the
target vmlinux.lds.
The assignment to $(CPPFLAGS_vmlinux.lds) tells kbuild to use the
specified options when building the target vmlinux.lds.
-
+
When building the *.lds target, kbuild uses the variables:
- CPPFLAGS : Set in top-level Makefile
- EXTRA_CPPFLAGS : May be set in the kbuild makefile
+ KBUILD_CPPFLAGS : Set in top-level Makefile
+ cppflags-y : May be set in the kbuild makefile
CPPFLAGS_$(@F) : Target specific flags.
Note that the full filename is used in this
assignment.
The kbuild infrastructure for *lds file are used in several
- architecture specific files.
+ architecture-specific files.
+
+=== 7 Kbuild syntax for exported headers
+
+The kernel include a set of headers that is exported to userspace.
+Many headers can be exported as-is but other headers requires a
+minimal pre-processing before they are ready for user-space.
+The pre-processing does:
+- drop kernel specific annotations
+- drop include of compiler.h
+- drop all sections that is kernel internat (guarded by ifdef __KERNEL__)
+
+Each relevant directory contain a file name "Kbuild" which specify the
+headers to be exported.
+See subsequent chapter for the syntax of the Kbuild file.
+
+ --- 7.1 header-y
+
+ header-y specify header files to be exported.
+ Example:
+ #include/linux/Kbuild
+ header-y += usb/
+ header-y += aio_abi.h
+
+ The convention is to list one file per line and
+ preferably in alphabetic order.
+
+ header-y also specify which subdirectories to visit.
+ A subdirectory is identified by a trailing '/' which
+ can be seen in the example above for the usb subdirectory.
+
+ Subdirectories are visited before their parent directories.
+
+ --- 7.2 objhdr-y
-=== 7 Kbuild Variables
+ objhdr-y specifies generated files to be exported.
+ Generated files are special as they need to be looked
+ up in another directory when doing 'make O=...' builds.
+
+ Example:
+ #include/linux/Kbuild
+ objhdr-y += version.h
+
+ --- 7.3 destination-y
+
+ When an architecture have a set of exported headers that needs to be
+ exported to a different directory destination-y is used.
+ destination-y specify the destination directory for all exported
+ headers in the file where it is present.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/xtensa/platforms/s6105/include/platform/Kbuild
+ destination-y := include/linux
+
+ In the example above all exported headers in the Kbuild file
+ will be located in the directory "include/linux" when exported.
+
+
+ --- 7.4 unifdef-y (deprecated)
+
+ unifdef-y is deprecated. A direct replacement is header-y.
+
+
+=== 8 Kbuild Variables
The top Makefile exports the following variables:
This variable defines a place for the arch Makefiles to install
the resident kernel image and System.map file.
- Use this for architecture specific install targets.
+ Use this for architecture-specific install targets.
INSTALL_MOD_PATH, MODLIB
INSTALL_MOD_STRIP will used as the option(s) to the strip command.
-=== 8 Makefile language
+=== 9 Makefile language
The kernel Makefiles are designed to be run with GNU Make. The Makefiles
use only the documented features of GNU Make, but they do use many
There are some cases where "=" is appropriate. Usually, though, ":="
is the right choice.
-=== 9 Credits
+=== 10 Credits
Original version made by Michael Elizabeth Chastain, <mailto:mec@shout.net>
Updates by Kai Germaschewski <kai@tp1.ruhr-uni-bochum.de>
Updates by Sam Ravnborg <sam@ravnborg.org>
Language QA by Jan Engelhardt <jengelh@gmx.de>
-=== 10 TODO
+=== 11 TODO
- Describe how kbuild supports shipped files with _shipped.
- Generating offset header files.
- Add more variables to section 7?
+
+