2.2.2. Setting Up to Use CROss PlatformS (CROPS)

With CROPS, which leverages Docker Containers, you can create a Yocto Project development environment that is operating system agnostic. You can set up a container in which you can develop using the Yocto Project on a Windows, Mac, or Linux machine.

Follow these general steps to prepare a Windows, Mac, or Linux machine as your Yocto Project development host:

  1. Go to the Docker Installation Site: Docker is a software container platform that you need to install on the host development machine. To start the installation process, see the Docker Installation site.

  2. Choose Your Docker Edition: Docker comes in several editions. For the Yocto Project, the stable community edition (i.e. "Docker CE Stable") is adequate. You can learn more about the Docker editions from the site.

  3. Go to the Install Site for Your Platform: Click the link for the Docker edition associated with your development host machine's native software. For example, if your machine is running Microsoft Windows Version 10 and you want the Docker CE Stable edition, click that link under "Supported Platforms".

  4. Understand What You Need: The install page has pre-requisites your machine must meet. Be sure you read through this page and make sure your machine meets the requirements to run Docker. If your machine does not meet the requirements, the page has instructions to handle exceptions. For example, to run Docker on Windows 10, you must have the pro version of the operating system. If you have the home version, you need to install the Docker Toolbox.

    Another example is that a Windows machine needs to have Microsoft Hyper-V. If you have a legacy version of the the Microsoft operating system or for any other reason you do not have Microsoft Hyper-V, you would have to enter the BIOS and enable virtualization.

  5. Install the Software: Once you have understood all the pre-requisites, you can download and install the appropriate software. Follow the instructions for your specific machine and the type of the software you need to install.

  6. Optionally Orient Yourself With Docker: If you are unfamiliar with Docker and the container concept, you can learn more here - https://docs.docker.com/get-started/. You should be able to launch Docker or the Docker Toolbox and have a terminal shell on your development host.

  7. Set Up the Containers to Use the Yocto Project: Go to https://github.com/crops/docker-win-mac-docs/wiki and follow the directions for your particular development host (i.e. Linux, Mac, or Windows).

    Once you complete the setup instructions for your machine, you have the Poky, Extensible SDK, and Toaster containers available. You can click those links from the page and learn more about using each of those containers.

Once you have a container set up, everything is in place to develop just as if you were running on a native Linux machine. If you are going to use the Poky container, see the "Cloning the poky Repository" section. If you are going to use the Extensible SDK container, see the "Using the Extensible SDK" Chapter in the Yocto Project Application Development and the Extensible Software Development Kit (eSDK) manual. If you are going to use the Toaster container, see the "Setting Up and Using Toaster" section in the Toaster User Manual.