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diff --git a/usermanual/chapters/introduction.xml b/usermanual/chapters/introduction.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..b218cb596c --- /dev/null +++ b/usermanual/chapters/introduction.xml @@ -0,0 +1,72 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> +<chapter id="chapter_introduction"> + <title>Introduction</title> + + <section id="intro_overview"> + <title>Overview</title> + + <para>Like any build tool (make, ant, jam), the OpenEmbedded build tool + BitBake controls how to build things and the build dependencies. But + unlike single project tools like <command>make</command> it is not based + on one makefile or a closed set of inter-dependent makefiles, but collects + and manages an open set of largely independent build descriptions (package + recipes) and builds them in proper order.</para> + + <para>To be more precise: <ulink + url="http://www.openembedded.org"><application>OpenEmbedded</application></ulink> + is a set of metadata used to cross-compile, package and install software + packages. <application>OpenEmbedded</application> is being used to build + and maintain a number of embedded Linux distributions, including + OpenZaurus, Angström, Familiar and SlugOS.</para> + + <para>The primary use-case of <application>OpenEmbedded</application> are: + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para>Handle cross-compilation.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Handle inter-package dependencies</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Must be able to emit packages (tar, rpm, ipk)</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Must be able to create images and feeds from packages</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Must be highly configurable to support many machines, + distribution and architectures.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para>Writing of metadata must be easy and reusable</para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist></para> + + <para>Together with <ulink + url="http://bitbake.berlios.de/manual"><application>BitBake</application></ulink>, + OpenEmbedded satisfies all these and many more. Flexibility and power have + always been the priorities.</para> + </section> + + <section id="intro_history"> + <title>History</title> + + <para>OpenEmbedded was invented and founded by the creators of the + OpenZaurus project. At this time the project had pushed + <emphasis>buildroot</emphasis> to its limits. It supported the creation of + <emphasis>ipk</emphasis> packages, feeds and images and had support for + more than one machine. But it was impossible to use different patches, + files for different architectures, machines or distributions. To overcome + this shortcoming OpenEmbedded was created.</para> + + <para>After a few months other projects started using OpenEmbedded and + contributing back. On 7 December 2004 Chris Larson split the project into + two parts: BitBake, a generic task executor and OpenEmbedded, the metadata + for BitBake.</para> + </section> +</chapter>
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