armbian-build/README.md

<p align="center">
  <a href="#build-framework">
  <img src=".github/armbian-logo.png" alt="Armbian logo" width="144">
  </a><br>
  <strong>Armbian Linux Build Framework</strong><br><h3>
 $${\color{black}NEXT\space \color{red}gen}$$
 </h3> 
 
## Table of contents

- [What does this project do?](#what-does-this-project-do)
- [Getting started](#getting-started)
- [Compared with industry standards](#compared-with-industry-standards)
- [Download prebuilt images](#download-prebuilt-images)
- [Project structure](#project-structure)
- [Contribution](#contribution)
- [Support](#support)
- [Contact](#contact)
- [Contributors](#contributors)
- [Partners](#armbian-partners)
- [License](#license)

## What does this project do?

- Builds custom kernel, image or a distribution optimized for low-resource hardware,
- Include filesystem generation, low-level control software, kernel image and bootloader compilation,
- Provides a consistent user experience by keeping system standards across different platforms.

## Getting started

### Basic requirements

- x86_64 or aarch64 machine with at least 2GB of memory and ~35GB of disk space for a virtual machine, [WSL2](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install), container or bare metal installation
- Ubuntu Jammy 22.04.x amd64 or aarch64 for native building or any Docker capable amd64 / aarch64 Linux for containerised
- Superuser rights (configured sudo or root access).
- Make sure all your system components are up-to-date. Outdated Docker binaries, for example, can cause trouble.

### Start with the build script

```bash
apt-get -y install git
git clone --depth=1 --branch=main https://github.com/armbian/build
cd build
./compile.sh
```

<a href="#how-to-build-an-image-or-a-kernel"><img src=".github/README.gif" alt="Armbian logo" width="100%"></a>

- Interactive graphical interface.
- Prepares the workspace by installing the necessary dependencies and sources.
- It guides the entire process and creates a kernel package or a ready-to-use SD card image.

### Build parameter examples

Show work-in-progress areas in interactive mode:

```bash
./compile.sh EXPERT="yes"
```

Build minimal CLI Armbian Focal image for Orangepi Zero. Use modern kernel and write image to the SD card:

```bash
./compile.sh \
BOARD=orangepizero \
BRANCH=current \
RELEASE=focal \
BUILD_MINIMAL=yes \
BUILD_DESKTOP=no \
KERNEL_CONFIGURE=no \
CARD_DEVICE="/dev/sdX"
```

More information:

- [Building Armbian](https://docs.armbian.com/Developer-Guide_Build-Preparation/) — how to start, how to automate;
- [Build options](https://docs.armbian.com/Developer-Guide_Build-Options/) — all build options;
- [User configuration](https://docs.armbian.com/Developer-Guide_User-Configurations/) — how to add packages, patches, and override sources config;

## Download prebuilt images

- quarterly released **supported** builds —  <https://www.armbian.com/download>
- weekly released **unsupported** community builds —  <https://github.com/armbian/community>
- upon code change **unsupported** development builds —  <https://github.com/armbian/build/releases>

## Compared with industry standards

Check similarities, advantages and disadvantages compared with leading industry standard build software.

Function | Armbian | Yocto | Buildroot |
|:--|:--|:--|:--|
| Target | general purpose | embedded | embedded / IOT |
| U-boot and kernel | compiled from sources | compiled from sources | compiled from sources |
| Board support maintenance &nbsp; | complete | outside | outside |
| Root file system | Debian or Ubuntu based| custom | custom |
| Package manager | APT | any | none |
| Configurability | limited | large | large |
| Initramfs support | yes | yes | yes |
| Getting started | quick | very slow | slow |
| Cross compilation | yes | yes | yes |

## Project structure

<details><summary>Expand</summary>

```text
├── cache                                Work / cache directory
│   ├── aptcache                         Packages
│   ├── ccache                           C/C++ compiler
│   ├── docker                           Docker last pull
│   ├── git-bare                         Minimal Git
│   ├── git-bundles                      Full Git
│   ├── initrd                           Ram disk
│   ├── memoize                          Git status
│   ├── patch                            Kernel drivers patch
│   ├── pip                              Python
│   ├── rootfs                           Compressed userspaces
│   ├── sources                          Kernel, u-boot and other sources
│   ├── tools                            Additional tools like ORAS
│   └── utility
├── config                               Packages repository configurations
│   ├── targets.conf                     Board build target configuration
│   ├── boards                           Board configurations
│   ├── bootenv                          Initial boot loaders environments per family
│   ├── bootscripts                      Initial Boot loaders scripts per family
│   ├── cli                              CLI packages configurations per distribution
│   ├── desktop                          Desktop packages configurations per distribution
│   ├── distributions                    Distributions settings
│   ├── kernel                           Kernel build configurations per family
│   ├── sources                          Kernel and u-boot sources locations and scripts
│   ├── templates                        User configuration templates which populate userpatches
│   └── torrents                         External compiler and rootfs cache torrents
├── extensions                           Extend build system with specific functionality
├── lib                                  Main build framework libraries
│   ├── functions
│   │   ├── artifacts
│   │   ├── bsp
│   │   ├── cli
│   │   ├── compilation
│   │   ├── configuration
│   │   ├── general
│   │   ├── host
│   │   ├── image
│   │   ├── logging
│   │   ├── main
│   │   └── rootfs
│   └── tools
├── output                               Build artifact
│   └── deb                              Deb packages
│   └── images                           Bootable images - RAW or compressed
│   └── debug                            Patch and build logs
│   └── config                           Kernel configuration export location
│   └── patch                            Created patches location
├── packages                             Support scripts, binary blobs, packages
│   ├── blobs                            Wallpapers, various configs, closed source bootloaders
│   ├── bsp-cli                          Automatically added to armbian-bsp-cli package
│   ├── bsp-desktop                      Automatically added to armbian-bsp-desktopo package
│   ├── bsp                              Scripts and configs overlay for rootfs
│   └── extras-buildpkgs                 Optional compilation and packaging engine
├── patch                                Collection of patches
│   ├── atf                              ARM trusted firmware
│   ├── kernel                           Linux kernel patches
|   |   └── family-branch                Per kernel family and branch
│   ├── misc                             Linux kernel packaging patches
│   └── u-boot                           Universal boot loader patches
|       ├── u-boot-board                 For specific board
|       └── u-boot-family                For entire kernel family
├── tools                                Tools for dealing with kernel patches and configs
└── userpatches                          User: configuration patching area
    ├── lib.config                       User: framework common config/override file
    ├── config-default.conf              User: default user config file
    ├── customize-image.sh               User: script will execute just before closing the image
    ├── atf                              User: ARM trusted firmware
    ├── kernel                           User: Linux kernel per kernel family
    ├── misc                             User: various
    └── u-boot                           User: universal boot loader patches
```
</details>

## Contribution

### You don't need to be a programmer to help!

- The easiest way to help is by "Starring" our repository - it helps more people find our code.
- [Check out our list of volunteer positions](https://forum.armbian.com/staffapplications/) and choose what you want to do ❤️
- [Seed torrents](https://forum.armbian.com/topic/4198-seed-our-torrents/)
- Help with [forum moderating](https://forum.armbian.com/topic/12631-help-on-forum-moderating/)
- [Project administration](https://forum.armbian.com/forum/39-armbian-project-administration/)
- [Donate](https://www.armbian.com/donate).

### Want to become a maintainer?

Please review the [Board Maintainers Procedures and Guidelines](https://docs.armbian.com/Board_Maintainers_Procedures_and_Guidelines/), and if you can meet the requirements and find a board on the [Board Maintainers](https://docs.armbian.com/Release_Board-Maintainers/) list with less than two maintainers, then please apply using the linked form.

### Want to become a developer?

To help with development, you should first review the [Development Code Review Procedures and Guidelines](https://docs.armbian.com/Development-Code_Review_Procedures_and_Guidelines/). Then you can review the pre-made Jira dashboards and additional resources provided below to find open tasks and how you can assist:

- [pull requests that need a review](https://github.com/armbian/build/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Aopen+review%3Arequired)
- dashboard for [junior](https://armbian.atlassian.net/jira/dashboards/10000) and [seniors](https://armbian.atlassian.net/jira/dashboards/10103) developers
- [documentation](https://docs.armbian.com/)
- [continuous integration](https://docs.armbian.com/Process_CI/)

## Support

For commercial or prioritized assistance:
 - Book an hour of [professional consultation](https://calendly.com/armbian/consultation)
 - Consider becoming a project partner. Reach us at <https://armbian.com/contact>. Alternatively, find free support via [general project search engine](https://www.armbian.com/search), [documentation](https://docs.armbian.com), [community forums](https://forum.armbian.com/) or [IRC/Discord](https://docs.armbian.com/Community_IRC/). Remember that our awesome community members mainly provide this in a **best-effort** manner, so there are no guaranteed solutions.

## Contact

- [Forums](https://forum.armbian.com) for Participate in Armbian
- IRC: `#armbian` on Libera.chat
- Discord: [https://discord.gg/armbian](https://discord.gg/armbian)
- Follow [@armbian](https://twitter.com/armbian) on Twitter, [Fosstodon](https://fosstodon.org/@armbian) or [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/armbian).
- Bugs: [issues](https://github.com/armbian/build/issues) / [JIRA](https://armbian.atlassian.net/jira/dashboards/10000)
- Office hours: [Wednesday, 12 midday, 18 afternoon, CET](https://calendly.com/armbian/office-hours)

## Contributors

Thank you to all the people who already contributed to Armbian!

<a href="https://github.com/armbian/build/graphs/contributors">
  <img src="https://contrib.rocks/image?repo=armbian/build" />
</a>

### Also

- [Current and past contributors](https://github.com/armbian/build/graphs/contributors), our families and friends.
- [Support staff](https://forum.armbian.com/members/2-moderators/) that keeps forums usable.
- [Friends and individuals](https://armbian.com/authors) who support us with resources and their time.
- [The Armbian Community](https://forum.armbian.com/) helps with their ideas, reports and [donations](https://www.armbian.com/donate).

## Armbian Partners

Armbian's partnership program helps to support Armbian and the Armbian community! Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our Partners:

- [Click here to visit our Partners page!](https://armbian.com/partners)
- [How can I become a Partner?](https://forum.armbian.com/subscriptions)

## Star History

[![Star History Chart](https://api.star-history.com/svg?repos=armbian/build&type=Date)](https://star-history.com/#armbian/build&Date)

## License

This software is published under the GPL-2.0 License license.