Introduction #
During VxWorks development, it’s common to modify parts of the kernel(such as drivers or boot code) to add debugging information or update functionality. Rebuilding the entire system can be time-consuming, but using the VSB_DIR variable allows you to selectively recompile just the modified source files quickly and efficiently.
Rebuilding for Single Processor (UP) #
To rebuild a specific source file using the command line, open a VxWorks development shell and navigate to the relevant source directory (e.g., boot code):
cd C:/WindRiver/vxworks-6.9/target/src/boot
Then run make, specifying your target CPU, toolchain, and custom VSB directory:
make CPU=PENTIUM4 ADDED_CFLAGS+="-g -O0" TOOL=gnu VSB_DIR=<MY-VSB>
- -g -O0 enables debugging with no optimization for GNU toolchain.
- Replace
with the full path to your custom VSB.
After compiling, rebuild your VxWorks Image Project to include the updated components.
For Diab Toolchain #
If you’re using the Diab compiler instead of GNU, use the following flags to enable debugging:
make CPU=PENTIUM4 ADDED_CFLAGS+="-g -Xoptimized-debug-off" TOOL=diab VSB_DIR=<MY-VSB>
This method is valid for both VxWorks 6 and 7, assuming you’re working with a custom-built VSB.
Rebuilding for Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) #
VxWorks distinguishes between two kernel types: UP (Uniprocessor) and SMP (Symmetric Multiprocessing). To rebuild for SMP, include the VXBUILD=SMP option:
make CPU=PENTIUM4 ADDED_CFLAGS+="-g -O0" TOOL=gnu VSB_DIR=<MY-VSB> VXBUILD=SMP
Building a VSB Layer in VxWorks 7 #
The VSB_DIR method is effective for rebuilding source files but not for building UI layers or specific VSB components. For those cases, use the vxprj command:
cd C:/WindRiver/workspace/your_VSB_project
vxprj vsb build FBDEV
To list all available layers in your VSB:
vxprj vsb listAll
Summary #
Using the command line for partial kernel rebuilds is a time-saving technique for VxWorks developers. By leveraging VSB_DIR, make, and vxprj, you can efficiently recompile individual components without waiting for a full system rebuild.