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Armbian Linux build framework generates custom Debian or Ubuntu image for x86, aarch64, riscv64 & armhf

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armbian/build

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Armbian Linux Build Framework

GitHub contributors Artifacts generation GitHub last commit (branch)

What does this project do?

  • Builds customkernel,imageor adistributionoptimized for low-resource hardware,
  • Include filesystem generation, low-level control software, kernel image andbootloadercompilation,
  • Provides aconsistent user experienceby keeping system standards across different platforms.

Getting started

Requirements for self hosted

  • x86_64 / aarch64 machine
  • at least 2GB of memory and ~35GB of disk space for VM, container or bare metal installation
  • Armbian / Ubuntu Jammy 22.04.xfor native building or any Docker capable Linux for containerised
  • Windows 10/11 with WSL2 subsystem running Ubuntu Jammy 22.04.x
  • Superuser rights (configured sudo or root access).
  • Make sure your system is up-to-date! Outdated Docker binaries, for example, can cause trouble.

For stable branch use--branch=v24.08

apt-get -y install git
git clone --depth=1 --branch=main https://github.com/armbian/build
cdbuild
./compile.sh

Armbian logo

  • Interactive graphical interface.
  • Prepares the workspace by installing the necessary dependencies and sources.
  • It guides the entire process and creates a kernel package or a ready-to-use SD card image.

Build parameter examples

Show work-in-progress areas in interactive mode:

./compile.sh EXPERT="yes"

Build minimal CLI Armbian Jammy for Bananapi M5 with LTS kernel:

./compile.sh \
BOARD=bananapim5 \
BRANCH=current \
RELEASE=jammy \
BUILD_MINIMAL=yes \
BUILD_DESKTOP=no \
KERNEL_CONFIGURE=no

Build with GitHub actions: (advanced version)

name: "Build Armbian"
on:
workflow_dispatch:
jobs:
build-armbian:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: armbian/build@main
with:
armbian_token: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" # GitHub token
armbian_release: "jammy" # userspace
armbian_target: "build" # build=image, kernel=kernel
armbian_board: "bananapim5" # build target

Generated image will be uploaded to your repository release. Note: GitHub upload file limit is 2Gb.

More information:

Download prebuilt images releases

Point

Rolling

Compared with industry standards

Expand Check similarities, advantages and disadvantages compared with leading industry standard build software.
Function Armbian Yocto Buildroot
Target general purpose embedded embedded / IOT
U-boot and kernel compiled from sources compiled from sources compiled from sources
Board support maintenance complete outside outside
Root file system Debian or Ubuntu based custom custom
Package manager APT any none
Configurability limited large large
Initramfs support yes yes yes
Getting started quick very slow slow
Cross compilation yes yes yes

Project structure

Expand
├── cache Work / cache directory
│ ├── aptcache Packages
│ ├── ccache C/C++ compiler
│ ├── docker Docker last pull
│ ├── git-bare Minimal Git
│ ├── git-bundles Full Git
│ ├── initrd Ram disk
│ ├── memoize Git status
│ ├── patch Kernel drivers patch
│ ├── pip Python
│ ├── rootfs Compressed userspaces
│ ├── sources Kernel, u-boot and other sources
│ ├── tools Additional tools like ORAS
│ └── utility
├── config Packages repository configurations
│ ├── targets.conf Board build target configuration
│ ├── boards Board configurations
│ ├── bootenv Initial boot loaders environments per family
│ ├── bootscripts Initial Boot loaders scripts per family
│ ├── cli CLI packages configurations per distribution
│ ├── desktop Desktop packages configurations per distribution
│ ├── distributions Distributions settings
│ ├── kernel Kernel build configurations per family
│ ├── sources Kernel and u-boot sources locations and scripts
│ ├── templates User configuration templates which populate userpatches
│ └── torrents External compiler and rootfs cache torrents
├── extensions Extend build system with specific functionality
├── lib Main build framework libraries
│ ├── functions
│ │ ├── artifacts
│ │ ├── bsp
│ │ ├── cli
│ │ ├── compilation
│ │ ├── configuration
│ │ ├── general
│ │ ├── host
│ │ ├── image
│ │ ├── logging
│ │ ├── main
│ │ └── rootfs
│ └── tools
├── output Build artifact
│ └── deb Deb packages
│ └── images Bootable images - RAW or compressed
│ └── debug Patch and build logs
│ └── config Kernel configuration export location
│ └── patch Created patches location
├── packages Support scripts, binary blobs, packages
│ ├── blobs Wallpapers, various configs, closed source bootloaders
│ ├── bsp-cli Automatically added to armbian-bsp-cli package
│ ├── bsp-desktop Automatically added to armbian-bsp-desktopo package
│ ├── bsp Scripts and configs overlay for rootfs
│ └── extras-buildpkgs Optional compilation and packaging engine
├── patch Collection of patches
│ ├── atf ARM trusted firmware
│ ├── kernel Linux kernel patches
| | └── family-branch Per kernel family and branch
│ ├── misc Linux kernel packaging patches
│ └── u-boot Universal boot loader patches
| ├── u-boot-board For specific board
| └── u-boot-family For entire kernel family
├── tools Tools for dealing with kernel patches and configs
└── userpatches User: configuration patching area
├── lib.config User: framework common config/override file
├── config-default.conf User: default user config file
├── customize-image.sh User: script will execute just before closing the image
├── atf User: ARM trusted firmware
├── kernel User: Linux kernel per kernel family
├── misc User: various
└── u-boot User: universal boot loader patches

Contribution

Want to help?

We always need those volunteering positions:

Just apply and follow!

Support

For commercial or prioritized assistance:

Free support:

Find free support viageneral project search engine,documentation,community forumsorIRC/Discord.Remember that our awesome community members mainly provide this in abest-effortmanner, so there are no guaranteed solutions.

Contact

Contributors

Thank you to all the people who already contributed to Armbian!

Also

Armbian Partners

Armbian's partnership program helps to support Armbian and the Armbian community! Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our Partners:

Star History

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License

This software is published under the GPL-2.0 License license.