[HOWTO] Build custom kernel, libraries and applications on your own

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For building own custom stuff for my Gen8 Device I set up an Ubuntu 10.10 32bit Virtual Machine, so everything in here refers to it, may be different on other linux system.

[disclaimer]This is only a HowTo, if you brick your android device with some custom kernels or other stuff, don't blame me! I'm not responsible for anything you do![/disclaimer]

Notice: ** = you only have to do this step once

• Prerequisites for Ubuntu 10.10 32 Bit: **
  

  # sudo apt-get install git-core flex bison gperf libsdl-dev libesd0-dev libwxgtk2.6-dev build-essential zip curl automake autoconf libtool gettext texinfo libmpfr1ldbl

• Prepare environment: **
  

  # mkdir -pv $HOME/{archos,bin}
  # echo export ARCHOS=\$HOME/archos >> ~/.bashrc
  # echo export PATH=\$HOME/bin:\$PATH >> ~/.bashrc
  # cd $HOME/archos
  # wget -Oavos_env.tgz http://archos-gen8-dvb.googlecode.com/files/avos_env_20110415.tgz
  # tar xzf avos_env.tgz
  # install -m755 cross $HOME/bin/
  # rm -f cross avos_env.tgz
  RESTART CONSOLE OR REBOOT COMPUTER!

• Toolchain: **
  

  # cd $ARCHOS
  # make all

• Configure kernel:
  

  # cd $ARCHOS
  # make kernel-config

• Restore kernel config:
  

  # cd $ARCHOS
  # make kernel-reset

• Build kernel:
  

  # cd $ARCHOS
  # make kernel-build

• CrossCompile: (this is just an example for if you want to build some linux libraries or tools)
  

  # echo $ARCHOS
  # cd ..xyz../..zyx../
  # cross make

I followed your instructions, and I got all the way to the end, but when I did 'make kernel-build' it ended with this:

drivers/built-in.o: In function `archos_dpm_suspend':
/home/zyntax/archos/gen8-gpl-froyo/linux/drivers/usb/storage/archos_hdd.c:261: undefined reference to `usbsata_power'
make[3]: *** [.tmp_vmlinux1] Error 1
make[2]: *** [sub-make] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory `/home/zyntax/archos/gen8-gpl-froyo/linux'
make[1]: *** [/home/zyntax/archos/gen8-gpl-froyo/buildroot//linux/arch/arm/boot/zImage] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/zyntax/archos/gen8-gpl-froyo/buildroot'
make: *** [kernel-build] Error 2
zyntax@john-ubuntu:~/archos$

This is on a fresh install of Ubuntu 10.10 32-bit in Virtualbox. I installed it, updated the OS, then started your steps. Not sure if this is normal and I'm holding off on the last step. I did do one extra step: in 'make kernal-config' I deselected all the Archos boards under System Type except for the A101IT since that's what I have.

Originally Posted by jbradshw

This is on a fresh install of Ubuntu 10.10 32-bit in Virtualbox. I installed it, updated the OS, then started your steps. Not sure if this is normal and I'm holding off on the last step. I did do one extra step: in 'make kernal-config' I deselected all the Archos boards under System Type except for the A101IT since that's what I have.

can you please try again without modifying kernel config?

Did that, now I get this:

CC [M] drivers/usb/musb/omap2430.o
/home/zyntax/archos/gen8-gpl-froyo/linux/drivers/usb/musb/omap2430.c:221: warning: 'omap_phy_read' defined but not used
LD [M] drivers/usb/musb/musb_hdrc.o
LD drivers/built-in.o
make[2]: *** [sub-make] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory `/home/zyntax/archos/gen8-gpl-froyo/linux'
make[1]: *** [/home/zyntax/archos/gen8-gpl-froyo/buildroot//linux/arch/arm/boot/zImage] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/zyntax/archos/gen8-gpl-froyo/buildroot'
make: *** [kernel-build] Error 2


I don't believe I changed anything besides what I mentioned earlier. Is there anyway to get back a default kernel-config?

hehe, I thought you should try with default kernel-config

I added a section for restoring kernel config in the start posting :

Originally Posted by chulri

[*]Restore kernel config:

# cd $ARCHOS
# tar xzf gen8-gpl-froyo.tgz gen8-gpl-froyo/linux/linux.config

Well I did poke around in the config, but as far as I remember I only removed those extra archos systems. I'll restore the default and run it again later tonight.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by jbradshw

Well I did poke around in the config, but as far as I remember I only removed those extra archos systems. I'll restore the default and run it again later tonight.

You can't remove other devices (like A32, A101 etc) from Linux kernel config because Archos made bad dependencies for different parts of the kernel and even 70S requires some USB kernel code, it's only compiled when you choose A101 - so either you clean it up manually, or you are required to leave checked other archos devices :/

Thanks for this howto, this is gonna be useful for me, should be a sticky.

OK the make kernel-build worked without errors. Now I'm just questioning the command 'cd ..xyz../..zyx../' I don't have any files or directories called that, and running that reports the same. Can I just skip that and do the make cross?

@jbradshw that's just a sample if someone wants to crosscompile something (e.g. some linux library or application like linuxtv-dvb-apps or w_scan)
you don't have to do everything mentioned in the howto. it's a HowTo not a HaveTo