$Id$ 1. INTRODUCTION:: This collection of scripts, known as jhalfs, strives to create accurate makefiles from the Linux From Scratch book series XML files. This software is an evolution of the original "jhalfs-0.2" code. The usage of this script assumes you have read and are familiar with the book(s) and, therefore, the configuration variables found in config files will have meaning to you. NOTES:: *. The resulting Makefile takes considerable time to run to completion. Lay in a supply of caffeine beverages. *. It is recommended that you temporarily unpack your linux kernel, run , configure the kernel as per the book and save the resulting .config file. This suggestion also applies to the configuration of the uClibc package when building a HLFS system using uClibc rather than glibc. 2. PREREQUISITES:: To use this tool you MUST: - have experience building {c,h,b}LFS packages - know how to edit and write shell scripts - know how a Makefile works - be able to trace build failures and to find what is causing it (user error, package bug, {c,h,b}LFS command bug, or jhalfs code bug) If you do not have the above skills, please don't use this tool. 3. INSTALLATION:: No installation is required. System-wide installation is not allowed for now. 4. CONFIGURATION FILES:: ::NEWS:: There is new configuration method for jhalfs. We have installed the familiar menu based configuration tool driven by by GNU make. see the section RUNNING, for details 5. RUNNING:: ::NEWS:: jhalfs is now launched via GNU make instead of individual symlinks. The command will launch a menu based configuration program. You will recognize the layout from bulding the kernel or uClibc/Busybox. The underlying menu code was borrowed from BusyBox and slightly modified for our use. Help on parameter function is available from the online help. Once you have set the parameters you wish and have saved your work the makefile will proceed to launch the jhalfs script. The script validate and present you with your selections which you may accept or reject. If you accepted the displayed settings jhalfs will proceed to create the makefile, optionally download packages. NOTE:: If you run the jhalfs script directly the only funcion you can select is to display the version number 6. LAYOUT:: /CLFS/config /master.sh /xxxx.xsl /CLFS2/config /master.sh /xxxx.xsl /HLFS/config /master.sh /xxxx.xsl /LFS/config / master.sh /xxxx.xsl /common/config /common_functions /makefile_functions /func_check_versions.sh /func_validate_configs.sh /contrib/jhalfs-paco.patch /extras/do_copy_files /do_ica_prep /do_ica_work /farce /filelist README README.BLFS README.PACO TODO Config.in makefile jhalfs blfs-tool 7. FAQ:: Q. "This 'help' file is very sparse" A. Yes, it is. This tool, jhalfs, is for those who understand the LFS books and wish to automate the build. 99% of any problems that arise can be solved by reading the book(s). Q. "It doesn't work!" A. Yes it does, try >> make Remember you must either be 'root' to run this script or have 'sudo' privileges. Q. "It still doesn't work" A. jhalfs was designed to work against the developement versions of the LFS series of books. Consequently changes in a book(s) sometimes breaks older versions of jhalfs. Before you start pulling out your hair download the latest version of jhalfs to see if that solves your problem. Q. "How do I specify the build location?" A. The original LFS document worked against the well known location /mnt/lfs. This script automates the build of all of the LFS series of books and uses a generic location $BUILDDIR with a default value of /mnt/build_dir. You may change this value to suit your needs. The layout below $BUILDDIR is as follows. $BUILDDIR/ jhalfs (makefile,cmd scripts,logs..etc) sources (where packages reside) tools (temporary bootstrap system) cross-tools (temporary CLFS only) ... FHS dir structure ... Q. "What is the function of the SRC_ARCHIVE variable?" A. When then symlinked master.sh runs it creates a local copy of the necessary packages in BUILDDIR/sources by downloading the files. If the variable SRC_ARCHIVE is defined the software will first look in this location for the file and, if found, will copy it to BUILDDIR/sources. If the files are not found in SRC_ARCHIVE _and_ you have write priv to the directory any downloaded files will be mirrored there. Q. "How do I set the SRC_ARCHIVE location?" A. The best way to set the value of SRC_ARCHIVE is export SRC_ARCHIVE=/wherever/you/store/downloaded/packages OR you can change the setting in common/config. Q. "Why have 2 copies of the files?" A. The package files must be visible during the chroot phase and this is a simple and reliable method of doing so. This method also handles the CLFS build method where the final build may be done on a separate machine. Q. "What is the function of LUSER and LGROUP? There is no cmd line switch" A. If you are running jhalfs from a low or non-priveledged account you may not have the priv to create/delete accounts. These variables are adjustable when invoking make. $BUILDDIR make LUSER=myaccount LGROUP=mygroup Then only changes to your account will be the creation of a NEW .bashrc after saving your original to .bashrc.XXX Q. "When I try to build 'xxx' with clfs the makefile fails at the mid-point" A. There could be numerous reasons for the failure but the most likely reason is you are doing a cross-build using the 'chroot' method and the target is not compatible with the host. If you choose to build using the chroot method a test is performed at the end of the temptools phase. If the test succeeds the build continues inside a chroot jail. However if the test fails it means the host and target are not compatible an you should use the 'boot' method to create your target code. As an extreme example: You can build a sparc target on a x86 platform but only the temptools phase. You must select the 'boot' method and not the 'chroot.' You must transfer the toolchain to a sparc platform, reboot the sparc box and continue the build. Of all the LFS series of books Cross-LFS requires the greatest understanding of host/target hardware combination. Please read the book carefully and don't skip the easy parts (there are none..) Authors: George Boudreau Manuel Canales Esparcia Jeremy Huntwork