Table of contents title
Linux kernel compilation: in-depth understanding make menuconfigof commands
introduction
During the Linux kernel compilation process, make menuconfigit is a commonly used command to generate kernel configuration files. There is a complex series of operations and file interactions behind this command. This article will dive into how this command works, explaining it with code examples and visual tools.
“Code is documentation.” — Linus Torvalds
Top-level Makefile analysis
When the command is executed , the following code in make menuconfigthe top level is first matched :Makefile
%config: scripts_basic outputmakefile FORCE
$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=scripts/kconfig $@
Here, $(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=scripts/kconfig $@it is actually an expansion, equivalent to:
@ make -f ./scripts/Makefile.build obj=scripts/kconfig menuconfig
The purpose of this step is to call scripts/kconfig/Makefile.
scripts/kconfig/Makefile analysis
In scripts/kconfig/Makefile, there is the following code:
menuconfig: $(obj)/mconf
$< $(silent) $(Kconfig)
After expansion, the code is equivalent to:
menuconfig: scripts/kconfig/mconf
scripts/kconfig/mconf Kconfig
Here, the target menuconfigdepends on scripts/kconfig/mconf, so scripts/kconfig/mconf.cthis file will be compiled to generate mconfthis executable file.
Key file analysis
scripts/kconfig/mconf.c: This ismconfthe source code file.Kconfig: This is the configuration file in the root directory of U-Boot or Linux kernel.
Summary and Insights
Through the above analysis, we can see make menuconfigthe complexity behind the command. It involves not only multiple Makefiles and source code files, but also compilation and file dependencies.
"Simplicity is not simplicity" - Donald Knuth
In this process, we can also see the developers' rigor in code structure and naming, which reflects people's need for order and structure when solving complex problems.
References
- Linux Kernel Development, Robert Love
- The C++ Programming Language, Bjarne Stroustrup
I hope this article helped you gain a deeper understanding of make menuconfighow the command works. If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a message below. Thanks!
Conclusion
In our programming learning journey, understanding is an important step for us to move to a higher level. However, mastering new skills and ideas always requires time and persistence. From a psychological point of view, learning is often accompanied by constant trial and error and adjustment, which is like our brain gradually optimizing its "algorithm" for solving problems.
This is why when we encounter mistakes, we should view them as opportunities to learn and improve, not just as annoyances. By understanding and solving these problems, we can not only fix the current code, but also improve our programming skills and prevent making the same mistakes in future projects.
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