How to Create a Yocto Recipe Using the Create-Recipe Script for Embedded Linux

Yocto is a powerful framework for building embedded Linux distributions, and creating recipes is a key part of building packages in Yocto. The create-recipe script simplifies this process by automatically generating the base structure needed for a new package. In this post, we will walk through how to use the create-recipe script to create a recipe for Yocto with clear, simple steps.

What is a Yocto Recipe?

In Yocto, a recipe is a file that describes how to fetch, configure, build, and install a package. Recipes provide detailed instructions for obtaining source code, applying patches, and compiling binaries. Yocto recipes are essential for managing the build process of your software components.

Using the Create-Recipe Script

The create-recipe script allows developers to create a base recipe template with minimal effort. This script helps ensure that your recipe complies with Yocto’s best practices.

Here’s how you can use the create-recipe script:

1. Install Required Tools
   First, ensure you have Yocto and all necessary dependencies installed. You can find instructions in the Yocto documentation.
2. Run the create-recipe Command
   The create-recipe script is a part of Yocto’s devtool. Use the following command to create a new recipe:

   devtool create-recipe <package-name>

Replace <package-name> with the name of the package you are creating. For example, if you are creating a recipe for a package called myapp, the command would be:

   devtool create-recipe myapp

3. Specify Source URL
   You will be prompted to enter the URL of the source code for the package you are creating a recipe for. This could be a GitHub repository or a tarball hosted online:

   devtool create-recipe myapp https://github.com/user/myapp.git

4. Edit the Recipe
   The script generates a basic recipe template in the meta-layer/recipes folder. Open the generated .bb file and edit it to customize the build options, dependencies, and other important settings.

Example Recipe

Here’s an example of a basic Yocto recipe:

SUMMARY = "Sample Yocto Recipe"
LICENSE = "MIT"
SRC_URI = "https://github.com/user/myapp.git"
S = "${WORKDIR}/myapp"

inherit cmake
do_compile() {
    cmake .
    make
}

This recipe fetches code from a Git repository and compiles it using cmake and make.

Finalizing and Building

Once your recipe is ready, you can add it to your custom Yocto layer and build it using the bitbake command:

bitbake myapp

This command compiles the code and generates the package based on your recipe.

Creating a recipe in Yocto is an essential skill for anyone working with embedded Linux systems. The create-recipe script makes it easy to set up the basic structure, allowing you to focus on customizing the build process for your software. Whether you’re building from source code or pre-compiled binaries, this script can streamline your Yocto workflow.