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+Linux Kernel Makefiles
+
+This document describes the Linux kernel Makefiles.
+
+=== Table of Contents
+
+ === 1 Overview
+ === 2 Who does what
+ === 3 The kbuild files
+ --- 3.1 Goal definitions
+ --- 3.2 Built-in object goals - obj-y
+ --- 3.3 Loadable module goals - obj-m
+ --- 3.4 Objects which export symbols
+ --- 3.5 Library file goals - lib-y
+ --- 3.6 Descending down in directories
+ --- 3.7 Compilation flags
+ --- 3.8 Command line dependency
+ --- 3.9 Dependency tracking
+ --- 3.10 Special Rules
+ --- 3.11 $(CC) support functions
+ --- 3.12 $(LD) support functions
+
+ === 4 Host Program support
+ --- 4.1 Simple Host Program
+ --- 4.2 Composite Host Programs
+ --- 4.3 Defining shared libraries
+ --- 4.4 Using C++ for host programs
+ --- 4.5 Controlling compiler options for host programs
+ --- 4.6 When host programs are actually built
+ --- 4.7 Using hostprogs-$(CONFIG_FOO)
+
+ === 5 Kbuild clean infrastructure
+
+ === 6 Architecture Makefiles
+ --- 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
+ --- 6.5 Building non-kbuild targets
+ --- 6.6 Commands useful for building a boot image
+ --- 6.7 Custom kbuild commands
+ --- 6.8 Preprocessing linker scripts
+ --- 6.9 Generic header files
+
+ === 7 Kbuild syntax for exported headers
+ --- 7.1 header-y
+ --- 7.2 objhdr-y
+ --- 7.3 destination-y
+ --- 7.4 generic-y
+
+ === 8 Kbuild Variables
+ === 9 Makefile language
+ === 10 Credits
+ === 11 TODO
+
+=== 1 Overview
+
+The Makefiles have five parts:
+
+ Makefile the top Makefile.
+ .config the kernel configuration file.
+ arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile the arch Makefile.
+ scripts/Makefile.* common rules etc. for all kbuild Makefiles.
+ kbuild Makefiles there are about 500 of these.
+
+The top Makefile reads the .config file, which comes from the kernel
+configuration process.
+
+The top Makefile is responsible for building two major products: vmlinux
+(the resident kernel image) and modules (any module files).
+It builds these goals by recursively descending into the subdirectories of
+the kernel source tree.
+The list of subdirectories which are visited depends upon the kernel
+configuration. The top Makefile textually includes an arch Makefile
+with the name arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile. The arch Makefile supplies
+architecture-specific information to the top Makefile.
+
+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
+any built-in or modular targets.
+
+scripts/Makefile.* contains all the definitions/rules etc. that
+are used to build the kernel based on the kbuild makefiles.
+
+
+=== 2 Who does what
+
+People have four different relationships with the kernel Makefiles.
+
+*Users* are people who build kernels. These people type commands such as
+"make menuconfig" or "make". They usually do not read or edit
+any kernel Makefiles (or any other source files).
+
+*Normal developers* are people who work on features such as device
+drivers, file systems, and network protocols. These people need to
+maintain the kbuild Makefiles for the subsystem they are
+working on. In order to do this effectively, they need some overall
+knowledge about the kernel Makefiles, plus detailed knowledge about the
+public interface for kbuild.
+
+*Arch developers* are people who work on an entire architecture, such
+as sparc or ia64. Arch developers need to know about the arch Makefile
+as well as kbuild Makefiles.
+
+*Kbuild developers* are people who work on the kernel build system itself.
+These people need to know about all aspects of the kernel Makefiles.
+
+This document is aimed towards normal developers and arch developers.
+
+
+=== 3 The kbuild files
+
+Most Makefiles within the kernel are kbuild Makefiles that use the
+kbuild infrastructure. This chapter introduces the syntax used in the
+kbuild makefiles.
+The preferred name for the kbuild files are 'Makefile' but 'Kbuild' can
+be used and if both a 'Makefile' and a 'Kbuild' file exists, then the 'Kbuild'
+file will be used.
+
+Section 3.1 "Goal definitions" is a quick intro, further chapters provide
+more details, with real examples.
+
+--- 3.1 Goal definitions
+
+ Goal definitions are the main part (heart) of the kbuild Makefile.
+ These lines define the files to be built, any special compilation
+ options, and any subdirectories to be entered recursively.
+
+ The most simple kbuild makefile contains one line:
+
+ Example:
+ obj-y += foo.o
+
+ 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.
+ Therefore the following pattern is often used:
+
+ Example:
+ obj-$(CONFIG_FOO) += foo.o
+
+ $(CONFIG_FOO) evaluates to either y (for built-in) or m (for module).
+ If CONFIG_FOO is neither y nor m, then the file will not be compiled
+ nor linked.
+
+--- 3.2 Built-in object goals - obj-y
+
+ The kbuild Makefile specifies object files for vmlinux
+ in the $(obj-y) lists. These lists depend on the kernel
+ configuration.
+
+ Kbuild compiles all the $(obj-y) files. It then calls
+ "$(LD) -r" to merge these files into one built-in.o file.
+ built-in.o is later linked into vmlinux by the parent Makefile.
+
+ The order of files in $(obj-y) is significant. Duplicates in
+ the lists are allowed: the first instance will be linked into
+ built-in.o and succeeding instances will be ignored.
+
+ Link order is significant, because certain functions
+ (module_init() / __initcall) will be called during boot in the
+ order they appear. So keep in mind that changing the link
+ order may e.g. change the order in which your SCSI
+ controllers are detected, and thus your disks are renumbered.
+
+ Example:
+ #drivers/isdn/i4l/Makefile
+ # Makefile for the kernel ISDN subsystem and device drivers.
+ # Each configuration option enables a list of files.
+ obj-$(CONFIG_ISDN_I4L) += isdn.o
+ obj-$(CONFIG_ISDN_PPP_BSDCOMP) += isdn_bsdcomp.o
+
+--- 3.3 Loadable module goals - obj-m
+
+ $(obj-m) specify object files which are built as loadable
+ kernel modules.
+
+ A module may be built from one source file or several source
+ files. In the case of one source file, the kbuild makefile
+ simply adds the file to $(obj-m).
+
+ Example:
+ #drivers/isdn/i4l/Makefile
+ obj-$(CONFIG_ISDN_PPP_BSDCOMP) += isdn_bsdcomp.o
+
+ Note: In this example $(CONFIG_ISDN_PPP_BSDCOMP) evaluates to 'm'
+
+ If a kernel module is built from several source files, you specify
+ that you want to build a module in the same way as above; however,
+ kbuild needs to know which object files you want to build your
+ module from, so you have to tell it by setting a $(<module_name>-y)
+ variable.
+
+ Example:
+ #drivers/isdn/i4l/Makefile
+ obj-$(CONFIG_ISDN_I4L) += isdn.o
+ isdn-y := isdn_net_lib.o isdn_v110.o isdn_common.o
+
+ In this example, the module name will be isdn.o. Kbuild will
+ compile the objects listed in $(isdn-y) and then run
+ "$(LD) -r" on the list of these files to generate isdn.o.
+
+ Due to kbuild recognizing $(<module_name>-y) for composite objects,
+ you can use the value of a CONFIG_ symbol to optionally include an
+ object file as part of a composite object.
+
+ Example:
+ #fs/ext2/Makefile
+ obj-$(CONFIG_EXT2_FS) += ext2.o
+ ext2-y := balloc.o dir.o file.o ialloc.o inode.o ioctl.o \
+ namei.o super.o symlink.o
+ ext2-$(CONFIG_EXT2_FS_XATTR) += xattr.o xattr_user.o \
+ xattr_trusted.o
+
+ In this example, xattr.o, xattr_user.o and xattr_trusted.o are only
+ part of the composite object ext2.o if $(CONFIG_EXT2_FS_XATTR)
+ evaluates to 'y'.
+
+ Note: Of course, when you are building objects into the kernel,
+ the syntax above will also work. So, if you have CONFIG_EXT2_FS=y,
+ kbuild will build an ext2.o file for you out of the individual
+ parts and then link this into built-in.o, as you would expect.
+
+--- 3.4 Objects which export symbols
+
+ No special notation is required in the makefiles for
+ modules exporting symbols.
+
+--- 3.5 Library file goals - lib-y
+
+ Objects listed with obj-* are used for modules, or
+ combined in a built-in.o for that specific directory.
+ There is also the possibility to list objects that will
+ 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 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
+ and to be part of a library. Therefore the same directory
+ may contain both a built-in.o and a lib.a file.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/x86/lib/Makefile
+ lib-y := delay.o
+
+ This will create a library lib.a based on delay.o. 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
+
+ A Makefile is only responsible for building objects in its own
+ directory. Files in subdirectories should be taken care of by
+ Makefiles in these subdirs. The build system will automatically
+ invoke make recursively in subdirectories, provided you let it know of
+ them.
+
+ To do so, obj-y and obj-m are used.
+ ext2 lives in a separate directory, and the Makefile present in fs/
+ tells kbuild to descend down using the following assignment.
+
+ Example:
+ #fs/Makefile
+ obj-$(CONFIG_EXT2_FS) += ext2/
+
+ If CONFIG_EXT2_FS is set to either 'y' (built-in) or 'm' (modular)
+ the corresponding obj- variable will be set, and kbuild will descend
+ down in the ext2 directory.
+ Kbuild only uses this information to decide that it needs to visit
+ the directory, it is the Makefile in the subdirectory that
+ specifies what is modules and what is built-in.
+
+ It is good practice to use a CONFIG_ variable when assigning directory
+ names. This allows kbuild to totally skip the directory if the
+ corresponding CONFIG_ option is neither 'y' nor 'm'.
+
+--- 3.7 Compilation flags
+
+ ccflags-y, asflags-y and ldflags-y
+ These three flags apply only to the kbuild makefile in which they
+ are assigned. They are used for all the normal cc, as and ld
+ invocations happening during a recursive build.
+ Note: Flags with the same behaviour were previously named:
+ EXTRA_CFLAGS, EXTRA_AFLAGS and EXTRA_LDFLAGS.
+ They are still supported but their usage is deprecated.
+
+ ccflags-y specifies options for compiling with $(CC).
+
+ Example:
+ # drivers/acpi/Makefile
+ ccflags-y := -Os
+ ccflags-$(CONFIG_ACPI_DEBUG) += -DACPI_DEBUG_OUTPUT
+
+ This variable is necessary because the top Makefile owns the
+ variable $(KBUILD_CFLAGS) and uses it for compilation flags for the
+ entire tree.
+
+ asflags-y specifies options for assembling with $(AS).
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/sparc/kernel/Makefile
+ asflags-y := -ansi
+
+ ldflags-y specifies options for linking with $(LD).
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/cris/boot/compressed/Makefile
+ ldflags-y += -T $(srctree)/$(src)/decompress_$(arch-y).lds
+
+ subdir-ccflags-y, subdir-asflags-y
+ The two flags listed above are similar to ccflags-y and asflags-y.
+ The difference is that the subdir- variants have effect for the kbuild
+ file where they are present and all subdirectories.
+ Options specified using subdir-* are added to the commandline before
+ the options specified using the non-subdir variants.
+
+ Example:
+ subdir-ccflags-y := -Werror
+
+ CFLAGS_$@, AFLAGS_$@
+
+ CFLAGS_$@ and AFLAGS_$@ only apply to commands in current
+ kbuild makefile.
+
+ $(CFLAGS_$@) specifies per-file options for $(CC). The $@
+ part has a literal value which specifies the file that it is for.
+
+ Example:
+ # drivers/scsi/Makefile
+ CFLAGS_aha152x.o = -DAHA152X_STAT -DAUTOCONF
+ CFLAGS_gdth.o = # -DDEBUG_GDTH=2 -D__SERIAL__ -D__COM2__ \
+ -DGDTH_STATISTICS
+
+ These two lines specify compilation flags for aha152x.o and gdth.o.
+
+ $(AFLAGS_$@) is a similar feature for source files in assembly
+ languages.
+
+ Example:
+ # arch/arm/kernel/Makefile
+ AFLAGS_head.o := -DTEXT_OFFSET=$(TEXT_OFFSET)
+ AFLAGS_crunch-bits.o := -Wa,-mcpu=ep9312
+ AFLAGS_iwmmxt.o := -Wa,-mcpu=iwmmxt
+
+
+--- 3.9 Dependency tracking
+
+ Kbuild tracks dependencies on the following:
+ 1) All prerequisite files (both *.c and *.h)
+ 2) CONFIG_ options used in all prerequisite files
+ 3) Command-line used to compile target
+
+ Thus, if you change an option to $(CC) all affected files will
+ be re-compiled.
+
+--- 3.10 Special Rules
+
+ 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
+ need special rules to prepare boot images etc.
+
+ Special rules are written as normal Make rules.
+ Kbuild is not executing in the directory where the Makefile is
+ located, so all special rules shall provide a relative
+ path to prerequisite files and target files.
+
+ Two variables are used when defining special rules:
+
+ $(src)
+ $(src) is a relative path which points to the directory
+ where the Makefile is located. Always use $(src) when
+ referring to files located in the src tree.
+
+ $(obj)
+ $(obj) is a relative path which points to the directory
+ where the target is saved. Always use $(obj) when
+ referring to generated files.
+
+ Example:
+ #drivers/scsi/Makefile
+ $(obj)/53c8xx_d.h: $(src)/53c7,8xx.scr $(src)/script_asm.pl
+ $(CPP) -DCHIP=810 - < $< | ... $(src)/script_asm.pl
+
+ This is a special rule, following the normal syntax
+ required by make.
+ The target file depends on two prerequisite files. References
+ to the target file are prefixed with $(obj), references
+ 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 usually the gcc compiler, but other alternatives are
+ available.
+
+ as-option
+ as-option is used to check if $(CC) -- when used to compile
+ assembler (*.S) files -- supports the given option. An optional
+ second option may be specified if the first option is not supported.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/sh/Makefile
+ cflags-y += $(call as-option,-Wa$(comma)-isa=$(isa-y),)
+
+ In the above example, cflags-y will be assigned the option
+ -Wa$(comma)-isa=$(isa-y) if it is supported by $(CC).
+ The second argument is optional, and if supplied will be used
+ if first argument is not supported.
+
+ 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 += $(call cc-ldoption, -Wl$(comma)--hash-style=sysv)
+
+ 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.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/i386/Makefile
+ cflags-y += $(call cc-option,-march=pentium-mmx,-march=i586)
+
+ 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
+ and return 'y' if supported, otherwise 'n'.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/ppc/Makefile
+ 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
+ alignment of functions, loops etc. $(cc-option-align), when used
+ as prefix to the align options, will select the right prefix:
+ gcc < 3.00
+ cc-option-align = -malign
+ gcc >= 3.00
+ cc-option-align = -falign
+
+ Example:
+ 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-disable-warning
+ cc-disable-warning checks if gcc supports a given warning and returns
+ the commandline switch to disable it. This special function is needed,
+ because gcc 4.4 and later accept any unknown -Wno-* option and only
+ warn about it if there is another warning in the source file.
+
+ Example:
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(call cc-disable-warning, unused-but-set-variable)
+
+ In the above example, -Wno-unused-but-set-variable will be added to
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS only if gcc really accepts it.
+
+ 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
+ gcc 3.41 would return 0341.
+ cc-version is useful when a specific $(CC) version is faulty in one
+ area, for example -mregparm=3 was broken in some gcc versions
+ even though the option was accepted by gcc.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/i386/Makefile
+ cflags-y += $(shell \
+ if [ $(call cc-version) -ge 0300 ] ; then \
+ echo "-mregparm=3"; fi ;)
+
+ In the above example, -mregparm=3 is only used for gcc version greater
+ than or equal to gcc 3.0.
+
+ cc-ifversion
+ cc-ifversion tests the version of $(CC) and equals last argument if
+ version expression is true.
+
+ Example:
+ #fs/reiserfs/Makefile
+ ccflags-y := $(call cc-ifversion, -lt, 0402, -O1)
+
+ 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:
+ -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
+
+Kbuild supports building executables on the host for use during the
+compilation stage.
+Two steps are required in order to use a host executable.
+
+The first step is to tell kbuild that a host program exists. This is
+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,
+or utilise the variable $(always).
+Both possibilities are described in the following.
+
+--- 4.1 Simple Host Program
+
+ In some cases there is a need to compile and run a program on the
+ computer where the build is running.
+ The following line tells kbuild that the program bin2hex shall be
+ built on the build host.
+
+ Example:
+ hostprogs-y := bin2hex
+
+ 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.
+ $(<executable>-objs) lists all objects used to link the final
+ executable.
+
+ Example:
+ #scripts/lxdialog/Makefile
+ hostprogs-y := lxdialog
+ lxdialog-objs := checklist.o lxdialog.o
+
+ Objects with extension .o are compiled from the corresponding .c
+ files. In the above example, checklist.c is compiled to checklist.o
+ and lxdialog.c is compiled to lxdialog.o.
+ 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
+
+ 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
+ shall be restricted.
+ In the following example the libkconfig.so shared library is used
+ to link the executable conf.
+
+ Example:
+ #scripts/kconfig/Makefile
+ 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.
+ expr.o and type.o will be built as position independent code and
+ linked as a shared library libkconfig.so. C++ is not supported for
+ shared libraries.
+
+--- 4.4 Using C++ for host programs
+
+ kbuild offers support for host programs written in C++. This was
+ introduced solely to support kconfig, and is not recommended
+ for general use.
+
+ Example:
+ #scripts/kconfig/Makefile
+ hostprogs-y := qconf
+ qconf-cxxobjs := qconf.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.
+
+ Example:
+ #scripts/kconfig/Makefile
+ 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.
+ The programs will always be compiled utilising $(HOSTCC) passed
+ the options specified in $(HOSTCFLAGS).
+ To set flags that will take effect for all host programs created
+ in that Makefile, use the variable HOST_EXTRACFLAGS.
+
+ Example:
+ #scripts/lxdialog/Makefile
+ HOST_EXTRACFLAGS += -I/usr/include/ncurses
+
+ To set specific flags for a single file the following construction
+ is used:
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/ppc64/boot/Makefile
+ HOSTCFLAGS_piggyback.o := -DKERNELBASE=$(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
+ as a prerequisite.
+ This is possible in two ways:
+
+ (1) List the prerequisite explicitly in a special rule.
+
+ Example:
+ #drivers/pci/Makefile
+ hostprogs-y := gen-devlist
+ $(obj)/devlist.h: $(src)/pci.ids $(obj)/gen-devlist
+ ( cd $(obj); ./gen-devlist ) < $<
+
+ 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).
+
+ (2) Use $(always)
+ When there is no suitable special rule, and the host program
+ shall be built when a makefile is entered, the $(always)
+ variable shall be used.
+
+ Example:
+ #scripts/lxdialog/Makefile
+ hostprogs-y := lxdialog
+ always := $(hostprogs-y)
+
+ This will tell kbuild to build lxdialog even if not referenced in
+ any rule.
+
+--- 4.7 Using hostprogs-$(CONFIG_FOO)
+
+ A typical pattern in a Kbuild file looks like this:
+
+ Example:
+ #scripts/Makefile
+ hostprogs-$(CONFIG_KALLSYMS) += kallsyms
+
+ Kbuild knows about both 'y' for built-in and 'm' for module.
+ So if a config symbol evaluate to 'm', kbuild will still build
+ the binary. In other words, Kbuild handles hostprogs-m exactly
+ like hostprogs-y. But only hostprogs-y is recommended to be used
+ when no CONFIG symbols are involved.
+
+=== 5 Kbuild clean infrastructure
+
+"make clean" deletes most generated files in the obj tree where the kernel
+is compiled. This includes generated files such as host programs.
+Kbuild knows targets listed in $(hostprogs-y), $(hostprogs-m), $(always),
+$(extra-y) and $(targets). They are all deleted during "make clean".
+Files matching the patterns "*.[oas]", "*.ko", plus some additional files
+generated by kbuild are deleted all over the kernel src tree when
+"make clean" is executed.
+
+Additional files can be specified in kbuild makefiles by use of $(clean-files).
+
+ Example:
+ #drivers/pci/Makefile
+ clean-files := devlist.h classlist.h
+
+When executing "make clean", the two files "devlist.h classlist.h" will
+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 hierarchy use:
+
+ Example:
+ #scripts/package/Makefile
+ clean-dirs := $(objtree)/debian/
+
+This will delete the directory debian, including all subdirectories.
+Kbuild will assume the directories to be in the same relative path as the
+Makefile if no absolute path is specified (path does not start with '/').
+
+To exclude certain files from make clean, use the $(no-clean-files) variable.
+This is only a special case used in the top level Kbuild file:
+
+ Example:
+ #Kbuild
+ no-clean-files := $(bounds-file) $(offsets-file)
+
+Usually kbuild descends down in subdirectories due to "obj-* := dir/",
+but in the architecture makefiles where the kbuild infrastructure
+is not sufficient this sometimes needs to be explicit.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/i386/boot/Makefile
+ subdir- := compressed/
+
+The above assignment instructs kbuild to descend down in the
+directory compressed/ when "make clean" is executed.
+
+To support the clean infrastructure in the Makefiles that builds the
+final bootimage there is an optional target named archclean:
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/i386/Makefile
+ archclean:
+ $(Q)$(MAKE) $(clean)=arch/i386/boot
+
+When "make clean" is executed, make will descend down in arch/i386/boot,
+and clean as usual. The Makefile located in arch/i386/boot/ may use
+the subdir- trick to descend further down.
+
+Note 1: arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile cannot use "subdir-", because that file is
+included in the top level makefile, and the kbuild infrastructure
+is not operational at that point.
+
+Note 2: All directories listed in core-y, libs-y, drivers-y and net-y will
+be visited during "make clean".
+
+=== 6 Architecture Makefiles
+
+The top level Makefile sets up the environment and does the preparation,
+before starting to descend down in the individual directories.
+The top level makefile contains the generic part, whereas
+arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile contains what is required to set up kbuild
+for said architecture.
+To do so, arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile sets up a number of variables and defines
+a few targets.
+
+When kbuild executes, the following steps are followed (roughly):
+1) Configuration of the kernel => produce .config
+2) Store kernel version in include/linux/version.h
+3) Symlink include/asm to include/asm-$(ARCH)
+4) Updating all other prerequisites to the target prepare:
+ - Additional prerequisites are specified in arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile
+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/$(ARCH)/Makefile.
+6) All object files are then linked and the resulting file vmlinux is
+ located at the root of the obj tree.
+ The very first objects linked are listed in head-y, assigned by
+ arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile.
+7) Finally, the architecture-specific part does any required post processing
+ and builds the final bootimage.
+ - This includes building boot records
+ - Preparing initrd images and the like
+
+
+--- 6.1 Set variables to tweak the build to the architecture
+
+ LDFLAGS Generic $(LD) options
+
+ Flags used for all invocations of the linker.
+ Often specifying the emulation is sufficient.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/s390/Makefile
+ LDFLAGS := -m elf_s390
+ 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
+ linking the .ko files used for modules.
+ Default is "-r", for relocatable output.
+
+ LDFLAGS_vmlinux Options for $(LD) when linking vmlinux
+
+ LDFLAGS_vmlinux is used to specify additional flags to pass to
+ the linker when linking the final vmlinux image.
+ LDFLAGS_vmlinux uses the LDFLAGS_$@ support.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/i386/Makefile
+ LDFLAGS_vmlinux := -e stext
+
+ OBJCOPYFLAGS objcopy flags
+
+ When $(call if_changed,objcopy) is used to translate a .o file,
+ the flags specified in OBJCOPYFLAGS will be used.
+ $(call if_changed,objcopy) is often used to generate raw binaries on
+ vmlinux.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/s390/Makefile
+ OBJCOPYFLAGS := -O binary
+
+ #arch/s390/boot/Makefile
+ $(obj)/image: vmlinux FORCE
+ $(call if_changed,objcopy)
+
+ In this example, the binary $(obj)/image is a binary version of
+ vmlinux. The usage of $(call if_changed,xxx) will be described later.
+
+ KBUILD_AFLAGS $(AS) assembler flags
+
+ Default value - see top level Makefile
+ Append or modify as required per architecture.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/sparc64/Makefile
+ KBUILD_AFLAGS += -m64 -mcpu=ultrasparc
+
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS $(CC) compiler flags
+
+ Default value - see top level Makefile
+ Append or modify as required per architecture.
+
+ Often, the KBUILD_CFLAGS variable depends on the configuration.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/i386/Makefile
+ cflags-$(CONFIG_M386) += -march=i386
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(cflags-y)
+
+ Many arch Makefiles dynamically run the target C compiler to
+ probe supported options:
+
+ #arch/i386/Makefile
+
+ ...
+ cflags-$(CONFIG_MPENTIUMII) += $(call cc-option,\
+ -march=pentium2,-march=i686)
+ ...
+ # Disable unit-at-a-time mode ...
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(call cc-option,-fno-unit-at-a-time)
+ ...
+
+
+ The first example utilises the trick that a config option expands
+ to 'y' when selected.
+
+ KBUILD_AFLAGS_KERNEL $(AS) options specific for built-in
+
+ $(KBUILD_AFLAGS_KERNEL) contains extra C compiler flags used to compile
+ resident kernel code.
+
+ KBUILD_AFLAGS_MODULE Options for $(AS) when building modules
+
+ $(KBUILD_AFLAGS_MODULE) is used to add arch specific options that
+ are used for $(AS).
+ From commandline AFLAGS_MODULE shall be used (see kbuild.txt).
+
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS_KERNEL $(CC) options specific for built-in
+
+ $(KBUILD_CFLAGS_KERNEL) contains extra C compiler flags used to compile
+ resident kernel code.
+
+ KBUILD_CFLAGS_MODULE Options for $(CC) when building modules
+
+ $(KBUILD_CFLAGS_MODULE) is used to add arch specific options that
+ are used for $(CC).
+ From commandline CFLAGS_MODULE shall be used (see kbuild.txt).
+
+ KBUILD_LDFLAGS_MODULE Options for $(LD) when linking modules
+
+ $(KBUILD_LDFLAGS_MODULE) is used to add arch specific options
+ used when linking modules. This is often a linker script.
+ From commandline LDFLAGS_MODULE shall be used (see kbuild.txt).
+
+ KBUILD_ARFLAGS Options for $(AR) when creating archives
+
+ $(KBUILD_ARFLAGS) set by the top level Makefile to "D" (deterministic
+ mode) if this option is supported by $(AR).
+
+--- 6.2 Add prerequisites to archprepare:
+
+ The archprepare: rule is used to list prerequisites that need to be
+ built before starting to descend down in the subdirectories.
+ This is usually used for header files containing assembler constants.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/arm/Makefile
+ archprepare: maketools
+
+ In this example, the file target maketools will be processed
+ before descending down in the subdirectories.
+ See also chapter XXX-TODO that describe how kbuild supports
+ generating offset header files.
+
+
+--- 6.3 List directories to visit when descending
+
+ An arch Makefile cooperates with the top Makefile to define variables
+ which specify how to build the vmlinux file. Note that there is no
+ 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 list directories where a built-in.o object file can be
+ located.
+
+ $(init-y) objects will be located after $(head-y).
+ Then the rest follows in this order:
+ $(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.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/sparc64/Makefile
+ core-y += arch/sparc64/kernel/
+ libs-y += arch/sparc64/prom/ arch/sparc64/lib/
+ drivers-$(CONFIG_OPROFILE) += arch/sparc64/oprofile/
+
+
+--- 6.4 Architecture-specific boot images
+
+ An arch Makefile specifies goals that take the vmlinux file, compress
+ it, wrap it in bootstrapping code, and copy the resulting files
+ somewhere. This includes various kinds of installation commands.
+ The actual goals are not standardized across architectures.
+
+ It is common to locate any additional processing in a boot/
+ directory below arch/$(ARCH)/.
+
+ Kbuild does not provide any smart way to support building a
+ target specified in boot/. Therefore arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile shall
+ call make manually to build a target in boot/.
+
+ The recommended approach is to include shortcuts in
+ arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile, and use the full path when calling down
+ into the arch/$(ARCH)/boot/Makefile.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/i386/Makefile
+ boot := arch/i386/boot
+ bzImage: vmlinux
+ $(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=$(boot) $(boot)/$@
+
+ "$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=<dir>" is the recommended way to invoke
+ make in a subdirectory.
+
+ There are no rules for naming architecture-specific targets,
+ but executing "make help" will list all relevant targets.
+ To support this, $(archhelp) must be defined.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/i386/Makefile
+ define archhelp
+ echo '* bzImage - Image (arch/$(ARCH)/boot/bzImage)'
+ endif
+
+ When make is executed without arguments, the first goal encountered
+ will be built. In the top level Makefile the first goal present
+ is all:.
+ An architecture shall always, per default, build a bootable image.
+ In "make help", the default goal is highlighted with a '*'.
+ Add a new prerequisite to all: to select a default goal different
+ from vmlinux.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/i386/Makefile
+ all: bzImage
+
+ When "make" is executed without arguments, bzImage will be built.
+
+--- 6.5 Building non-kbuild targets
+
+ extra-y
+
+ extra-y specify additional targets created in the current
+ directory, in addition to any targets specified by obj-*.
+
+ Listing all targets in extra-y is required for two purposes:
+ 1) Enable kbuild to check changes in command lines
+ - When $(call if_changed,xxx) is used
+ 2) kbuild knows what files to delete during "make clean"
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/i386/kernel/Makefile
+ extra-y := head.o init_task.o
+
+ 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
+ boot image.
+
+ if_changed
+
+ if_changed is the infrastructure used for the following commands.
+
+ Usage:
+ target: source(s) FORCE
+ $(call if_changed,ld/objcopy/gzip)
+
+ When the rule is evaluated, it is checked to see if any files
+ 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),
+ otherwise the command line check will fail, and the target will
+ always be built.
+ Assignments to $(targets) are without $(obj)/ prefix.
+ if_changed may be used in conjunction with custom commands as
+ defined in 6.7 "Custom kbuild commands".
+
+ Note: It is a typical mistake to forget the FORCE prerequisite.
+ Another common pitfall is that whitespace is sometimes
+ significant; for instance, the below will fail (note the extra space
+ after the comma):
+ target: source(s) FORCE
+ #WRONG!# $(call if_changed, ld/objcopy/gzip)
+
+ ld
+ Link target. Often, LDFLAGS_$@ is used to set specific options to ld.
+
+ objcopy
+ Copy binary. Uses OBJCOPYFLAGS usually specified in
+ arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile.
+ OBJCOPYFLAGS_$@ may be used to set additional options.
+
+ gzip
+ Compress target. Use maximum compression to compress target.
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/i386/boot/Makefile
+ LDFLAGS_bootsect := -Ttext 0x0 -s --oformat binary
+ LDFLAGS_setup := -Ttext 0x0 -s --oformat binary -e begtext
+
+ targets += setup setup.o bootsect bootsect.o
+ $(obj)/setup $(obj)/bootsect: %: %.o FORCE
+ $(call if_changed,ld)
+
+ In this example, there are two possible targets, requiring different
+ options to the linker. The linker options are specified using the
+ LDFLAGS_$@ syntax - one for each potential target.
+ $(targets) are assigned all potential targets, by which kbuild knows
+ the targets and will:
+ 1) check for commandline changes
+ 2) delete target during make clean
+
+ The ": %: %.o" part of the prerequisite is a shorthand that
+ free us from listing the setup.o and bootsect.o files.
+ Note: It is a common mistake to forget the "target :=" assignment,
+ resulting in the target file being recompiled for no
+ obvious reason.
+
+ dtc
+ Create flattend device tree blob object suitable for linking
+ into vmlinux. Device tree blobs linked into vmlinux are placed
+ in an init section in the image. Platform code *must* copy the
+ blob to non-init memory prior to calling unflatten_device_tree().
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/x86/platform/ce4100/Makefile
+ clean-files := *dtb.S
+
+ DTC_FLAGS := -p 1024
+ obj-y += foo.dtb.o
+
+ $(obj)/%.dtb: $(src)/%.dts
+ $(call cmd,dtc)
+
+--- 6.7 Custom kbuild commands
+
+ When kbuild is executing with KBUILD_VERBOSE=0, then only a shorthand
+ of a command is normally displayed.
+ To enable this behaviour for custom commands kbuild requires
+ two variables to be set:
+ quiet_cmd_<command> - what shall be echoed
+ cmd_<command> - the command to execute
+
+ Example:
+ #
+ quiet_cmd_image = BUILD $@
+ cmd_image = $(obj)/tools/build $(BUILDFLAGS) \
+ $(obj)/vmlinux.bin > $@
+
+ targets += bzImage
+ $(obj)/bzImage: $(obj)/vmlinux.bin $(obj)/tools/build FORCE
+ $(call if_changed,image)
+ @echo 'Kernel: $@ is ready'
+
+ When updating the $(obj)/bzImage target, the line
+
+ BUILD arch/i386/boot/bzImage
+
+ will be displayed with "make KBUILD_VERBOSE=0".
+
+
+--- 6.8 Preprocessing linker scripts
+
+ When the vmlinux image is built, the linker script
+ arch/$(ARCH)/kernel/vmlinux.lds is used.
+ 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 assignment to $(always) is used to tell kbuild to build the
+ target vmlinux.lds.
+ The assignment to $(CPPFLAGS_vmlinux.lds) tells kbuild to use the
+ specified options when building the target vmlinux.lds.
+
+ When building the *.lds target, kbuild uses the variables:
+ KBUILD_CPPFLAGS : Set in top-level Makefile
+ cppflags-y : May be set in the kbuild makefile
+ CPPFLAGS_$(@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.
+
+--- 6.9 Generic header files
+
+ The directory include/asm-generic contains the header files
+ that may be shared between individual architectures.
+ The recommended approach how to use a generic header file is
+ to list the file in the Kbuild file.
+ See "7.4 generic-y" for further info on syntax etc.
+
+=== 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 require 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 are kernel internal (guarded by ifdef __KERNEL__)
+
+Each relevant directory contains a file name "Kbuild" which specifies 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
+
+ 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 generic-y
+
+ If an architecture uses a verbatim copy of a header from
+ include/asm-generic then this is listed in the file
+ arch/$(ARCH)/include/asm/Kbuild like this:
+
+ Example:
+ #arch/x86/include/asm/Kbuild
+ generic-y += termios.h
+ generic-y += rtc.h
+
+ During the prepare phase of the build a wrapper include
+ file is generated in the directory:
+
+ arch/$(ARCH)/include/generated/asm
+
+ When a header is exported where the architecture uses
+ the generic header a similar wrapper is generated as part
+ of the set of exported headers in the directory:
+
+ usr/include/asm
+
+ The generated wrapper will in both cases look like the following:
+
+ Example: termios.h
+ #include <asm-generic/termios.h>
+
+=== 8 Kbuild Variables
+
+The top Makefile exports the following variables:
+
+ VERSION, PATCHLEVEL, SUBLEVEL, EXTRAVERSION
+
+ These variables define the current kernel version. A few arch
+ Makefiles actually use these values directly; they should use
+ $(KERNELRELEASE) instead.
+
+ $(VERSION), $(PATCHLEVEL), and $(SUBLEVEL) define the basic
+ three-part version number, such as "2", "4", and "0". These three
+ values are always numeric.
+
+ $(EXTRAVERSION) defines an even tinier sublevel for pre-patches
+ or additional patches. It is usually some non-numeric string
+ such as "-pre4", and is often blank.
+
+ KERNELRELEASE
+
+ $(KERNELRELEASE) is a single string such as "2.4.0-pre4", suitable
+ for constructing installation directory names or showing in
+ version strings. Some arch Makefiles use it for this purpose.
+
+ ARCH
+
+ This variable defines the target architecture, such as "i386",
+ "arm", or "sparc". Some kbuild Makefiles test $(ARCH) to
+ determine which files to compile.
+
+ By default, the top Makefile sets $(ARCH) to be the same as the
+ host system architecture. For a cross build, a user may
+ override the value of $(ARCH) on the command line:
+
+ make ARCH=m68k ...
+
+
+ INSTALL_PATH
+
+ 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.
+
+ INSTALL_MOD_PATH, MODLIB
+
+ $(INSTALL_MOD_PATH) specifies a prefix to $(MODLIB) for module
+ installation. This variable is not defined in the Makefile but
+ may be passed in by the user if desired.
+
+ $(MODLIB) specifies the directory for module installation.
+ The top Makefile defines $(MODLIB) to
+ $(INSTALL_MOD_PATH)/lib/modules/$(KERNELRELEASE). The user may
+ override this value on the command line if desired.
+
+ INSTALL_MOD_STRIP
+
+ If this variable is specified, will cause modules to be stripped
+ after they are installed. If INSTALL_MOD_STRIP is '1', then the
+ default option --strip-debug will be used. Otherwise,
+ INSTALL_MOD_STRIP value will be used as the option(s) to the strip
+ command.
+
+
+=== 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
+GNU extensions.
+
+GNU Make supports elementary list-processing functions. The kernel
+Makefiles use a novel style of list building and manipulation with few
+"if" statements.
+
+GNU Make has two assignment operators, ":=" and "=". ":=" performs
+immediate evaluation of the right-hand side and stores an actual string
+into the left-hand side. "=" is like a formula definition; it stores the
+right-hand side in an unevaluated form and then evaluates this form each
+time the left-hand side is used.
+
+There are some cases where "=" is appropriate. Usually, though, ":="
+is the right choice.
+
+=== 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>
+
+=== 11 TODO
+
+- Describe how kbuild supports shipped files with _shipped.
+- Generating offset header files.
+- Add more variables to section 7?
+
+
+