Genode OS Framework
Go to file
Norman Feske 253097314c Add unified build directories to create_builddir
This patch makes the benefit of the recently introduced unified Genode
ABI available to developers by enabling the use of multiple kernels from
within a single build directory. The create_builddir tool has gained a
new set of kernel-agnostic platform arguments such as x86_32, or panda.
Most build targets within directories are in principle compatible with
all kernels that support the selected hardware platform. To execute a
scenario via the run tool, one has to select the kernel to use by
setting the 'KERNEL' argument in the build configuration
(etc/build.conf). Alternatively, the 'KERNEL' can be specified as
command-line argument of the Genode build system, e.g.:

  make run/log KERNEL=nova

This allows us to easily switch from one kernel to another without
rebuilding any Genode component except for the very few kernel-specific
ones.

The new version of the 'create_builddir' tool is still compatible with
the old version. The old kernel-specific build directories can still be
created. However, those variants will eventually be removed.

Note that the commit removes the 'ports-foc' repository from the
generated 'build.conf' files. As this is only meaningful for 'foc',
I did not want to include it in the list of regular repositories (as
visible in a 'x86_32' build directory). Hence, the repository must
now be manually added in order to use L4Linux.

Issue #2190
2017-01-13 13:05:44 +01:00
doc Minor corrections in the 16.11 release notes 2016-12-02 15:18:51 +01:00
repos Add unified build directories to create_builddir 2017-01-13 13:05:44 +01:00
tool Add unified build directories to create_builddir 2017-01-13 13:05:44 +01:00
.gitignore clean up .gitignore 2016-11-08 15:26:33 +01:00
LICENSE Imported Genode release 11.11 2011-12-22 16:19:25 +01:00
README README update 2016-08-30 17:24:00 +02:00
VERSION version: 16.11 2016-11-30 15:29:42 +01:00

                      =================================
                      Genode Operating System Framework
                      =================================


This is the source tree of the reference implementation of the Genode OS
architecture. For a general overview about the architecture, please refer to
the project's official website:

:Official project website for the Genode OS Framework:

  [https://genode.org/documentation/general-overview]

The current implementation can be compiled for 8 different kernels: Linux,
L4ka::Pistachio, L4/Fiasco, OKL4, NOVA, Fiasco.OC, seL4, and a custom
kernel for running Genode directly on ARM-based hardware. Whereas the Linux
version serves us as development vehicle and enables us to rapidly develop the
generic parts of the system, the actual target platforms of the framework are
microkernels. There is no "perfect" microkernel - and neither should there be
one. If a microkernel pretended to be fit for all use cases, it wouldn't be
"micro". Hence, all microkernels differ in terms of their respective features,
complexity, and supported hardware architectures.

Genode allows the use of each of the kernels listed above with a rich set of
device drivers, protocol stacks, libraries, and applications in a uniform way.
For developers, the framework provides an easy way to target multiple different
kernels instead of tying the development to a particular kernel technology. For
kernel developers, Genode contributes advanced workloads, stress-testing their
kernel, and enabling a variety of application use cases that would not be
possible otherwise. For users and system integrators, it enables the choice of
the kernel that fits best with the requirements at hand for the particular
usage scenario.


Documentation
#############

The primary documentation is the book "Genode Foundations", which is available
on the front page of Genode website:

:Download the book "Genode Foundations":

  [https://genode.org]

The book describes Genode in a holistic and comprehensive way. It equips you
with a thorough understanding of the architecture, assists developers with the
explanation of the development environment and system configuration, and
provides a look under the hood of the framework. Furthermore, it contains the
specification of the framework's programming interface.

The project has a quarterly release cycle. Each version is accompanied with
detailed release documentation, which is available at the documentation
section of the project website:

:Release documentation:

  [https://genode.org/documentation/release-notes/]


Directory overview
##################

The source tree is composed of the following subdirectories:

:'doc':

  This directory contains general documentation. Please consider the following
  document for a quick guide to get started with the framework:

  ! doc/getting_started.txt

  If you are curious about the ready-to-use components that come with the
  framework, please review the components overview:

  ! doc/components.txt

:'repos':

  This directory contains the so-called source-code repositories of Genode.
  Please refer to the README file in the 'repos' directory to learn more
  about the roles of the individual repositories.

:'tool':

  Source-code management tools and scripts. Please refer to the README file
  contained in the directory.


Additional community-maintained components
##########################################

The components found within the main source tree are complemented by a growing
library of additional software, which can be seamlessly integrated into Genode
system scenarios.

:Genode-world repository:

  [https://github.com/genodelabs/genode-world]


Contact
#######

The best way to get in touch with Genode developers and users is the project's
mailing list. Please feel welcome to join in!

:Genode Mailing Lists:

  [https://genode.org/community/mailing-lists]


Commercial support
##################

The driving force behind the Genode OS Framework is the German company Genode
Labs. The company offers commercial licensing, trainings, support, and
contracted development work:

:Genode Labs website:

  [https://www.genode-labs.com]