| // -*- mode:doc; -*- |
| // vim: set syntax=asciidoc: |
| |
| == About Buildroot |
| |
| Buildroot is a tool that simplifies and automates the process of |
| building a complete Linux system for an embedded system, using |
| cross-compilation. |
| |
| In order to achieve this, Buildroot is able to generate a |
| cross-compilation toolchain, a root filesystem, a Linux kernel image |
| and a bootloader for your target. Buildroot can be used for any |
| combination of these options, independently (you can for example use |
| an existing cross-compilation toolchain, and build only your root |
| filesystem with Buildroot). |
| |
| Buildroot is useful mainly for people working with embedded systems. |
| Embedded systems often use processors that are not the regular x86 |
| processors everyone is used to having in his PC. They can be PowerPC |
| processors, MIPS processors, ARM processors, etc. |
| |
| Buildroot supports numerous processors and their variants; it also |
| comes with default configurations for several boards available |
| off-the-shelf. Besides this, a number of third-party projects are based on, |
| or develop their BSP footnote:[BSP: Board Support Package] or |
| SDK footnote:[SDK: Software Development Kit] on top of Buildroot. |
