Thingino is an external tree of the Buildroot tool. So the best possible documentation is available here.

Thingino uses a slightly modified version of Buildroot, allowing to create better symlinks for truly relocatable toolchain.

Thingino uses its own Makefile to do most of the pre-build configuration. It then passes the build command to Buildroot.

Buildroot's native make directives are accessible from firmware using the br- prefix, e.g. make br-help will show help output from the Buildroot Makefile, while make help will only show help from the Thingino Makefile.

Prefixed Buildroot make directives to work with a package at different stages:

• br-[pkgname] - Build and install [pkgname] and all its dependencies
• br-[pkgname]-source - Only download the source files for [pkgname]
• br-[pkgname]-extract - Extract [pkgname] sources
• br-[pkgname]-patch - Apply patches to [pkgname]
• br-[pkgname]-depends - Build [pkgname]'s dependencies
• br-[pkgname]-configure - Build [pkgname] up to the configure step
• br-[pkgname]-build - Build [pkgname] up to the build step
• br-[pkgname]-dirclean - Remove [pkgname] build directory
• br-[pkgname]-reconfigure - Restart the build from the configure step
• br-[pkgname]-rebuild - Restart the build from the build step
• br-[pkgname]-reinstall - Restart the build from the install step
• br-[pkgname]-show-info - Generate info about [pkgname], as a JSON blurb
• br-[pkgname]-show-depends - List packages on which [pkgname] depends
• br-[pkgname]-show-rdepends - List packages which have [pkgname] as a dependency
• br-[pkgname]-show-recursive-depends - Recursively list packages on which [pkgname] depends
• br-[pkgname]-show-recursive-rdepends - Recursively list packages which have [pkgname] as a dependency
• br-[pkgname]-graph-depends - Generate a graph of [pkgname]'s dependencies
• br-[pkgname]-graph-rdepends - Generate a graph of [pkgname]'s reverse dependencies
• br-menuconfig - Run Buildroot menuconfig
• br-savedefconfig - Save board defconfig
• br-busybox-menuconfig - Run BusyBox menuconfig
• br-linux-menuconfig - Run Linux kernel menuconfig
• br-linux-savedefconfig - Run Linux kernel savedefconfig
• br-linux-update-defconfig - Save the Linux configuration to the path specified by BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE
• br-list-defconfigs - List all defconfigs (pre-configured minimal systems)
• br-source - Download all sources needed for offline-build
• br-external-deps - List external packages used
• br-legal-info - Generate info about license compliance
• br-show-info - Generate info about packages, as a JSON blurb
• br-pkg-stats - Generate info about packages as JSON and HTML
• br-printvars - Dump internal variables selected with VARS=...
• br-make V=0|1 - 0 => quiet build (default), 1 => verbose build

Thingino adds a few shortcut directives of its own:

• bootstrap - Install prerequisites
• clean - Remove target directory and .config file for the given board
• distclean - Remove all building files for the given board
• rebuild-[pkgname] - Combine dirclean and rebuild
• pack_full - Download a corresponding bootloader and create a full firmware file
• pack_update - Create a firmware update file without a bootloader
• update_ota IP=192.168.1.10 - Upload and install firmware update, leave bootloader and most settings
• upgrade_ota IP=192.168.1.10 - Upload and install full firmware including bootloader

These toolchains are designed to support various Ingenic SoC targets and leverage different versions of GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) and libc implementations (GNU and musl).

The following toolchains are available for development:

• GNU GCC Toolchains for XBurst1:
  • toolchain_xburst1_gnu_gcc12
  • toolchain_xburst1_gnu_gcc13
• Musl GCC Toolchains for XBurst1:
  • toolchain_xburst1_musl_gcc12
  • toolchain_xburst1_musl_gcc13
• Musl GCC Toolchains for XBurst2:
  • toolchain_xburst2_musl_gcc12
  • toolchain_xburst2_musl_gcc13

• XBurst1 Targets:
  • T10/T20/T21/T23/T30/T31 SoCs
• XBurst2 Targets:
  • A1/T40/T41 SoCs

The toolchains are based on two versions of the GCC compiler:

• GCC 12
• GCC 13

These versions ensure compatibility with a wide range of software, offering developers the flexibility to choose a toolchain that best suits their project's requirements.

When selecting a toolchain for your project, consider the following:

• Target Architecture: Ensure the toolchain supports your SoC (XBurst1 vs. XBurst2).
• Libc Implementation: Decide between GNU libc and musl libc based on your project's needs. Musl libc is designed for static linking and simplicity, while GNU libc offers extensive features and dynamic linking support.
• Musl is the default recommended toolchain for Thingino development.
• GCC Version: Newer versions of GCC may offer better optimizations and more features. However, compatibility with your codebase should be verified.

Up to date Toolchains releases are always available on the releases page. Toolchains are updated weekly.

Are you interested in building or developing with Thingino but concerned about cluttering your system with additional software or needing to upgrade your operating system? Container technologies provide a streamlined solution to maintain a clean and efficient workspace. Whether you're building firmware or developing extensively, containers like Docker and LXC offer isolated environments tailored to your needs.

Docker provides a lightweight environment ideal for users focusing on firmware compilation without altering their system setup. It offers:

• A Debian-based container that ensures consistency across different systems.
• Minimal setup time with immediate readiness for firmware configuration.
• A simple interface to facilitate the build process.

For a more in-depth development experience, LXC (Linux Containers) offers a robust environment:

• Closer-to-metal operations that provide enhanced control over the workspace.
• Traditional VM-like behavior suitable for detailed testing and debugging.
• Provides an environment that can handle not only firmware compilation but also detailed testing and debugging.
• An ideal choice for developers requiring a full Debian system setup.

Both technologies ensure that your development does not interfere with your primary system, enhancing both security and efficiency.

To start with Docker, clone the Docker environment repository and run the setup script:

git clone https://github.com/themactep/docker-worker.git ~/docker-worker
cd ~/docker-worker
./run.sh thingino

LXC provides a Debian-like experience and is straightforward for users familiar with Debian systems. Here’s how to set it up:

git clone https://github.com/gtxaspec/thingino-lxc && cd thingino-lxc
sudo bash setup_thingino_lxc.sh

This script creates an LXC container named 'thingino-development', installs all necessary tools, and attaches you directly to the container for immediate development.

To access your dedicated Thingino LXC environment:

1. Open your terminal.
2. Run attach-thingino to enter your development container.

Exiting the Container: Type exit to return to your host system. Your container retains its state, allowing seamless continuation of your work.

For a visual guide, view our setup demonstration:

• Isolation: Keeps your main system pristine.
• Reproducible: Easy to replicate or remove environments without residual impacts.
• Resource Efficiency: Containers use fewer resources than full virtual machines, maintaining system performance.

Now, you're all set to enjoy hassle-free development with Thingino in a clean, organized environment!