# Concepts and Reference

In order to configure and use Toaster, you should understand some concepts and have some basic command reference material available. This final chapter provides conceptual information on layer sources, releases, and JSON configuration files. Also provided is a quick look at some useful `manage.py` commands that are Toaster-specific. Information on `manage.py` commands does exist across the Web and the information in this manual by no means attempts to provide a command comprehensive reference.

## Layer Source

In general, a "layer source" is a source of information about existing layers. In particular, we are concerned with layers that you can use with the Yocto Project and Toaster. This chapter describes a particular type of layer source called a "layer index."

A layer index is a web application that contains information about a set of custom layers. A good example of an existing layer index is the OpenEmbedded Metadata Index. A public instance of this layer index exists at . You can find the code for this layer index's web application at .

When you tie a layer source into Toaster, it can query the layer source through a REST API, store the information about the layers in the Toaster database, and then show the information to users. Users are then able to view that information and build layers from Toaster itself without worrying about cloning or editing the BitBake layers configuration file `bblayers.conf`.

Tying a layer source into Toaster is convenient when you have many custom layers that need to be built on a regular basis by a community of developers. In fact, Toaster comes pre-configured with the OpenEmbedded Metadata Index.

You do not have to use a layer source to use Toaster. Tying into a layer source is optional.

### Setting Up and Using a Layer Source

To use your own layer source, you need to set up the layer source and then tie it into Toaster. This section describes how to tie into a layer index in a manner similar to the way Toaster ties into the OpenEmbedded Metadata Index.

#### Understanding Your Layers

The obvious first step for using a layer index is to have several custom layers that developers build and access using the Yocto Project on a regular basis. This set of layers needs to exist and you need to be familiar with where they reside. You will need that information when you set up the code for the web application that "hooks" into your set of layers.

For general information on layers, see the "BSP Layers" and "Using the Yocto Project's BSP Tools" sections in the Yocto Project Board Support Package (BSP) Developer's Guide.

#### Configuring Toaster to Hook Into Your Layer Index

If you want Toaster to use your layer index, you must host the web application in a server to which Toaster can connect. You also need to give Toaster the information about your layer index. In other words, you have to configure Toaster to use your layer index. This section describes two methods by which you can configure and use your layer index.

In the previous section, the code for the OpenEmbedded Metadata Index (i.e. ) was referenced. You can use this code, which is at , as a base to create your own layer index.

##### Use the Administration Interface

Access the administration interface through a browser by entering the URL of your Toaster instance and adding "`/admin`" to the end of the URL. As an example, if you are running Toaster locally, use the following URL:

         http://127.0.0.1:8000/admin

The administration interface has a "Layer sources" section that includes an "Add layer source" button. Click that button and provide the required information. Make sure you select "layerindex" as the layer source type.

##### Use the `toasterconf.json` File

If you do not want to use the Administration Interface, you can edit the `toasterconf.json` file and reload it to Toaster.

When you set up Toaster in Build Mode, you are prompted to select a Toaster configuration file. This configuration file is used to set up the initial configuration values within the Toaster database including the layer sources. Three versions of the configuration file exist:

- The first version of the file is found in the `conf` directory of the `meta-yocto` layer (i.e. `meta-yocto/conf/toasterconf.json`). This version contains the default Yocto Project configuration for Toaster. You are prompted to select this file during the Toaster set up process if you had cloned the `poky` repository (i.e. `git://git.yoctoproject.org/poky`).

- The second version of the file is in the `conf` directory of the `openembedded-core` layer (i.e. `meta/conf/toasterconf.json`). This version contains the default OpenEmbedded configuration for Toaster. You are prompted to select this file during the Toaster set up process if you had cloned the `openembedded-core` repository (i.e. `git://git.openembedded.org/openembedded-core`).

- The third version is a sample configuration useful for when you want to set up a hosted service in Build Mode. You can find this version on the File:Toasterconf.json.txt.patch wiki page.

##### Edit the Configuration File

Edit the version of the `toasterconf.json` file you used to set up your Toaster instance. In the file, you will find a section for layer sources such as the following:

        "layersources": [
            {
                "name": "Local Yocto Project",
                "sourcetype": "local",
                "apiurl": "../../",
                "branches": ["HEAD" ],
                "layers": [
                    {
                        "name": "openembedded-core",
                        "local_path": "meta",
                        "vcs_url": "remote:origin",
                        "dirpath": "meta"
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "meta-yocto",
                        "local_path": "meta-yocto",
                        "vcs_url": "remote:origin",
                        "dirpath": "meta-yocto"
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "meta-yocto-bsp",
                        "local_path": "meta-yocto-bsp",
                        "vcs_url": "remote:origin",
                        "dirpath": "meta-yocto-bsp"
                    }

                ]
            },
            {
                "name": "OpenEmbedded",
                "sourcetype": "layerindex",
                "apiurl": "http://layers.openembedded.org/layerindex/api/",
                "branches": ["master", "jethro" ,"fido"]
            },
            {
                "name": "Imported layers",
                "sourcetype": "imported",
                "apiurl": "",
                "branches": ["master", "jethro","fido", "HEAD"]

            }
        ],

You should add your own layer source to this section by following the same format used for the "OpenEmbedded" layer source shown above.

Give your layer source a name, provide the URL of your layer source API, use the source type "layerindex", and indicate which branches from your layer source you want to make available through Toaster. For example, the OpenEmbedded layer source makes available only its "master", "fido", and "jethro" branches.

The branches must match the branch you set when configuring your releases. For example, if you configure one release in Toaster by setting its branch to "branch-one" and you configure another release in Toaster by setting its branch to "branch-two", the branches in your layer source should be "branch-one" and "branch-two" as well. Doing so creates a connection between the releases and the layer information from your layer source. Thus, when users create a project with a given release, they will see the appropriate layers from your layer source. This connection ensures that only layers that are compatible with the selected project release can be selected for building.

Once you have added this information to the `toasterconf.json` file, save your changes.

In a terminal window, navigate to the directory that contains the Toaster database, which by default is the root of the Yocto Project Source Directory. Once you are located in that directory, run the "`loadconf`" command, which takes as an argument the full path to the `toasterconf.json` file you just edited. For example, if you cloned the `poky` repository and you edited the `meta-yocto/conf/toasterconf.json` file, you would type something like the following:

         $ bitbake/lib/toaster/manage.py loadconf /home/scottrif/poky/meta-yocto/conf/toasterconf.json

After entering this command, you need to update the Toaster database with the information coming from your new layer source. To do that, you should run the "`lsupdates`" command from the directory that contains the Toaster database. Here is an example:

         $ bitbake/lib/toaster/manage.py lsupdates

If Toaster can reach the API URL, you should see a message telling you that Toaster is updating the layer source information.

Once the information has been updated, verify the new layer information is available by using the Toaster web interface. To do that, visit the "All compatible layers" page inside a Toaster project. The layers from your layer source should be listed there.

## Releases

When you create a Toaster project using the web interface, you are asked to choose a "Release." In the context of Toaster, the term "Release" refers to a set of layers and a BitBake version the OpenEmbedded build system uses to build something. As shipped, Toaster is pre-configured with releases that correspond to Yocto Project release branches. However, you can modify, delete, and create new releases according to your needs. This section provides some background information on releases.

### Pre-Configured Releases

As shipped, Toaster is configured to use a specific set of releases. Of course, you can always configure Toaster to use any release. For example, you might want your project to build against a specific commit of any of the "out-of-the-box" releases. Or, you might want your project to build against different revisions of OpenEmbedded and BitBake.

As shipped, Toaster is configured to work with the following releases:

- Yocto Project 2.0 "Jethro" or OpenEmbedded "Jethro": This release causes your Toaster projects to build against the head of the jethro branch at or .

- Yocto Project 1.8 "Fido" or OpenEmbedded "Fido": This release causes your Toaster projects to build against the head of the fido branch at or .

- Yocto Project "Master" or OpenEmbedded "Master": This release causes your Toaster Projects to build against the head of the master branch, which is where active development takes place, at or .

- Local Yocto Project or Local OpenEmbedded: This release causes your Toaster Projects to build against the head of the `poky` or `openembedded-core` clone you have local to the machine running Toaster.

### What Makes Up a Release?

A release consists of the following:

- Name: The name of the release (`name`). This release name never appears in the the Toaster web interface. Consequently, a user never sees the release name.

- Description: The textual description of the release (`description`). This description is what users encounter when creating projects with the Toaster web interface. When you configure your release, be sure to use a description that sufficiently describes and is understandable. If Toaster has more than one release configured, the release descriptions appear listed in a drop down menu when a user creates a new project. If Toaster has only one release configured, all projects created using the web interface take that release and the drop down menu does not display in the Toaster web interface.

- BitBake: The Bitbake version (`bitbake`) used to build layers set in the current release. This version is described by a name, a Git URL, a branch in the Git URL, and a directory path in the Git repository. As an example, consider the following snippet from a Toaster JSON configuration file. This BitBake version uses the master branch from the OpenEmbedded repository:

           "bitbake" : [
               {
                   "name": "master",
                   "giturl": "git://git.openembedded.org/bitbake",
                   "branch": "master",
                   "dirpath": ""
               }
           ]

  Here is more detail on each of the items that comprise the BitBake version:

  - Name: A string (`name`) used to refer to the version of BitBake you are using with Toaster. This name is never exposed through Toaster.

  - Git URL: The URL (`giturl`) for the BitBake Git repository cloned for Toaster projects.

  - Branch: The Git branch, or revision, (`branch`) of the BitBake repository used with Toaster.

  - Directory Path: The sub-directory of the BitBake repository (`dirpath`). If the Git URL includes more than one repository, you need to set this directory. If the URL does not include more than a single repository, you can set `dirpath` to a null string (i.e. "").

- Branch: The branch for the layer source (`branch`) used with the release. For example, for the OpenEmbedded layer source, the "master", "fido", and "jethro" branches are available.

- Default Layers: The set of default layers (`defaultlayers`) automatically added to the project configuration when a project is created.

- Layer Source Priorities A specification of layer source priorities (`layersourcepriority`). In order for Toaster to work as intended, the "Imported layers" layer source should have the highest priority, which means that layers manually imported by users with the "Import layer" functionality will always be visible and available for selection.

- Help Text: Help text (`helptext`) that explains what the release does when selected. This help text appears below the release drop-down menu when you create a Toaster project. The help text should assist users in making the correct decision regarding the release to use for a given project.

To summarize what comprises a release, consider the following example from a Toaster JSON file. The configuration names the release "master" and uses the "master" branch provided by the layer source of type "layerindex", which is called "OpenEmbedded", and sets the `openembedded-core` layer as the one to be added by default to any projects created in Toaster. The BitBake version used would be defined as shown earlier in the previous list:

         "releases": [
             {
                 "name": "master",
                 "description": "OpenEmbedded master",
                 "bitbake": "master",
                 "branch": "master",
                 "defaultlayers": [ "openembedded-core" ],
                 "layersourcepriority": { "Imported layers": 99, "Local OpenEmbedded" : 10, "OpenEmbedded" :  0 },
                 "helptext": "Toaster will run your builds using the tip of the <a href=\"http://git.yoctoproject.org/cgit/cgit.cgi/poky/log/\">Yocto Project master branch</a>, where active development takes place. This is not a stable branch, so your builds might not work as expected."
             }
         ]

## JSON Files

If you are going to be using Toaster in Build Mode, it must be initially configured before use. Configuration customizes layer source settings and Toaster defaults for all users and is performed by the person responsible for Toaster Configuration (i.e the Toaster Administrator). The Toaster Administrator performs this configuration through the Django administration interface.

To make it easier to initially start Toaster, you can import a pre-defined configuration file using the `loadconf` command.

The configuration file is a JSON-formatted text file with specific fields that Toaster recognizes. It is not a data dump from the database, so it cannot be loaded directly in the database.

By convention, the supplied configuration files are named `toasterconf.json`. The Toaster Administrator can customize the file prior to loading it into Toaster. When you set up Toaster locally to run in Build Mode, the system startup script actively looks for compatible configuration files and prompts you to select a file to load if it detects that the database has not been configured.

### Configuration File Choices

Three versions of the configuration file exist:

- The `meta-yocto/conf/toasterconf.json` in the `conf` directory of the Yocto Project's `meta-yocto` layer. This version contains the default Yocto Project configuration for Toaster. You are prompted to select this file during the Toaster set up process if you cloned the `poky` repository (i.e. `&YOCTO_GIT_URL;/poky`).

- The `meta/conf/toasterconf.json` in the `conf` directory of the OpenEmbedded's `openembedded-core` layer. This version contains the default OpenEmbedded configuration for Toaster. You are prompted to select this file during the Toaster set up process if you had cloned the `openembedded-core` repository (i.e. `git://git.openembedded.org/openembedded-core`).

- The `Toasterconf.json.txt.patch` located on the File:Toasterconf.json.txt.patch wiki page. This version of the file is useful as a sample configuration for when you want to set up Toaster as a hosted service in Build Mode.

### File Structure

The `toasterconf.json` file consists of easily readable areas: configuration, layer sources, BitBake, default release, and releases.

#### Configuration Area

This area of the JSON file sets which variables are exposed to users through the Toaster web interface. Users can easily edit these variables.

The variables you set here are displayed in the "Configuration variables" page in Toaster. Minimally, you should set the `MACHINE` variable, which appears to users as part of the project page in Toaster.

Here is the default `config` area:

         "config": {
             "MACHINE"      : "qemux86",
             "DISTRO"       : "poky",
             "IMAGE_FSTYPES": "ext3 jffs2 tar.bz2",
             "IMAGE_INSTALL_append": "",
             "PACKAGE_CLASSES": "package_rpm",
         },

#### Layer Sources Area

This area of the JSON file defines the layer sources Toaster uses. Toaster reads layer information from layer sources. Three types of layer sources exist that Toaster recognizes: Local, LayerIndex, and Imported.

The Local layer source reads layers from Git clones available on your local drive. Using a local layer source enables you to easily test Toaster.

If you are setting up a hosted version of Toaster, it does not make sense to have a local layer source.

The LayerIndex layer source uses a REST API exposed by instances of the Layer Index application (e.g the public ) to read layer data.

The Imported layer source is reserved for layer data manually introduced by the user or Toaster Administrator through the GUI. This layer source lets users import their own layers and build them with Toaster. You should not remove the imported layer source.

Here is the default `layersources` area:

        "layersources": [
            {
                "name": "Local Yocto Project",
                "sourcetype": "local",
                "apiurl": "../../",
                "branches": ["HEAD" ],
                "layers": [
                    {
                        "name": "openembedded-core",
                        "local_path": "meta",
                        "vcs_url": "remote:origin",
                        "dirpath": "meta"
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "meta-yocto",
                        "local_path": "meta-yocto",
                        "vcs_url": "remote:origin",
                        "dirpath": "meta-yocto"
                    },
                    {
                        "name": "meta-yocto-bsp",
                        "local_path": "meta-yocto-bsp",
                        "vcs_url": "remote:origin",
                        "dirpath": "meta-yocto-bsp"
                    }

                ]
            },
            {
                "name": "OpenEmbedded",
                "sourcetype": "layerindex",
                "apiurl": "http://layers.openembedded.org/layerindex/api/",
                "branches": ["master", "jethro" ,"fido"]
            },
            {
                "name": "Imported layers",
                "sourcetype": "imported",
                "apiurl": "",
                "branches": ["master", "jethro","fido", "HEAD"]

            }
        ],

#### BitBake Area

This area of the JSON file defines the version of BitBake Toaster uses. As shipped, Toaster is configured to recognize four versions of BitBake: master, fido, jethro, and HEAD.

HEAD is a special option that builds whatever is available on disk, without checking out any remote Git repositories.

Here is the default `bitbake` area:

         "bitbake" : [
             {
                 "name": "master",
                 "giturl": "remote:origin",
                 "branch": "master",
                 "dirpath": "bitbake"
             },
            {
                 "name": "jethro",
                 "giturl": "remote:origin",
                 "branch": "jethro",
                 "dirpath": "bitbake"
             },
             {
                 "name": "fido",
                 "giturl": "remote:origin",
                 "branch": "fido",
                "dirpath": "bitbake"
            },
             {
                 "name": "HEAD",
                 "giturl": "remote:origin",
                 "branch": "HEAD",
                 "dirpath": "bitbake"
             }
         ],

#### Default Area

This area of the JSON file establishes a default release used by Toaster. As shipped, Toaster uses the "master" release.

Here is the statement in the JSON file that establishes the default release:

         "defaultrelease": "master",

#### Releases Area

This area of the JSON file defines the versions of the OpenEmbedded build system Toaster recognizes. As shipped, Toaster is configured to work with the four releases described in the "Pre-Configured Releases" section.

Here is the default `releases` area:

         "releases": [
             {
                 "name": "master",
                 "description": "Yocto Project master",
                 "bitbake": "master",
                 "branch": "master",
                 "defaultlayers": [ "openembedded-core", "meta-yocto", "meta-yocto-bsp"],
                 "layersourcepriority": { "Imported layers": 99, "Local Yocto Project" : 10, "OpenEmbedded" :  0 },
                 "helptext": "Toaster will run your builds using the tip of the <a href=\"http://git.yoctoproject.org/cgit/cgit.cgi/poky/log/\">Yocto Project master branch</a>, where active development takes place. This is not a stable branch, so your builds might not work as expected."
             },
             {
                 "name": "jethro",
                 "description": "Yocto Project 2.0 Jethro",
                 "bitbake": "jethro",
                 "branch": "jethro",
                 "defaultlayers": [ "openembedded-core", "meta-yocto", "meta-yocto-bsp"],
                 "layersourcepriority": { "Imported layers": 99, "Local Yocto Project" : 10, "OpenEmbedded" :  0 },
                 "helptext": "Toaster will run your builds with the tip of the <a href=\"http://git.yoctoproject.org/cgit/cgit.cgi/poky/log/?h=jethro\">Yocto Project 2.0 \"Jethro\"</a> branch."
             },
             {
                 "name": "fido",
                 "description": "Yocto Project 1.8 Fido",
                 "bitbake": "fido",
                 "branch": "fido",
                 "defaultlayers": [ "openembedded-core", "meta-yocto", "meta-yocto-bsp"],
                 "layersourcepriority": { "Imported layers": 99, "Local Yocto Project" : 10, "OpenEmbedded" :  0 },
                 "helptext": "Toaster will run your builds with the tip of the <a href=\"http://git.yoctoproject.org/cgit/cgit.cgi/poky/log/?h=fido\">Yocto Project 1.8 \"Fido\"</a> branch."
             },
             {
                 "name": "local",
                 "description": "Local Yocto Project",
                 "bitbake": "HEAD",
                 "branch": "HEAD",
                 "defaultlayers": [ "openembedded-core", "meta-yocto", "meta-yocto-bsp"],
                 "layersourcepriority": { "Imported layers": 99, "Local Yocto Project" : 10, "OpenEmbedded" :  0 },
                 "helptext": "Toaster will run your builds with the version of the Yocto Project you have cloned or downloaded to your computer."
             }
         ]

## Useful Commands

In addition to the web user interface and the scripts that start and stop Toaster, command-line commands exist through the `manage.py` management script. You can find general documentation on `manage.py` at the Django site. However, several `manage.py` commands have been created that are specific to Toaster and are used to control configuration and back-end tasks. You can locate these commands in the Source Directory (e.g. `poky`) at `bitbake/lib/manage.py`. This section documents those commands.

When using `manage.py` commands given a default configuration, you must be sure that your working directory is set to the Build Directory. Using `manage.py` commands from the Build Directory allows Toaster to find the `toaster.sqlite` file, which is located in the Build Directory.

For non-default database configurations, it is possible that you can use `manage.py` commands from a directory other than the Build directory. To do so, the `toastermain/settings.py` file must be configured to point to the correct database backend.

### `buildslist`

The `buildslist` command lists all builds that Toaster has recorded. Access the command as follows:

         $ bitbake/lib/toaster/manage.py buildslist

The command returns a list, which includes numeric identifications, of the builds that Toaster has recorded in the current database.

You need to run the `buildslist` command first to identify existing builds in the database before using the `builddelete` command. Here is an example that assumes default repository and build directory names:

         $ cd ~/poky/build
         $ python ../bitbake/lib/toaster/manage.py buildslist

If your Toaster database had only one build, the above `buildslist` command would return something like the following:

         1: qemux86 poky core-image-minimal

### `builddelete`

The `builddelete` command deletes data associated with a build. Access the command as follows:

         $ bitbake/lib/toaster/manage.py builddelete build_id

The command deletes all the build data for the specified build_id. This command is useful for removing old and unused data from the database.

Prior to running the `builddelete` command, you need to get the ID associated with builds by using the `buildslist` command.

### `perf`

The `perf` command measures Toaster performance. Access the command as follows:

         $ bitbake/lib/toaster/manage.py perf

The command is a sanity check that returns page loading times in order to identify performance problems.

### `checksettings`

The `checksettings` command verifies existing Toaster settings. Access the command as follows:

         $ bitbake/lib/toaster/manage.py checksettings

In Build Mode, Toaster uses settings that are based on the database to configure the building tasks. The `checksettings` command verifies that the database settings are valid in the sense that they have the minimal information needed to start a build.

In order for the `checksettings` command to work, the database must be correctly set up and not have existing data. To be sure the database is ready, you can run the following:

         $ bitbake/lib/toaster/mana​ge.py syncdb
         $ bitbake/lib/toaster/mana​ge.py migrate orm
         $ bitbake/lib/toaster/mana​ge.py migrate bldcontrol

After running these commands, you can run the `checksettings` command.

### `loadconf`

The `loadconf` command loads an existing Toaster configuration file (JSON file). You must run this on a new database that does not have any data. Running this command on an existing database that has data results in errors. Access the command as follows:

         $ bitbake/lib/toaster/manage.py loadconf filepath

The `loadconf` command configures a database based on the supplied existing `toasterconf.json` file. For information on the `toasterconf.json`, see the "JSON Files" section.

### `runbuilds`

The `runbuilds` command launches scheduled builds. Access the command as follows:

         $ bitbake/lib/toaster/manage.py runbuilds

The `runbuilds` command checks if scheduled builds exist in the database and then launches them per schedule. The command returns after the builds start but before they complete. The Toaster Logging Interface records and updates the database when the builds complete.