How to build RISC OS 5 from shared source - RISC OS News, Software and Information

How to build RISC OS 5 from shared source

Published: 10th Mar 2007, 12:54:04GMT Source: drobe.co.uk
By the Drobe news desk

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You big teases, you

RISC OS Open have published a guided tour describing the processes involved in building RISC OS from scratch. The new web page outlines how programmers can roll their own printer stack, disc-based applications and ROM images.

The online document on the ROOL wiki is the latest update in the ongoing drip-drip of information from the RISC OS 5 shared source camp as developers and punters eagerly await the release of the operating system source code.

Although the OS's blueprints have yet to be disclosed under Castle's customised shared source licence, ROOL have been publicly documenting the ins and outs of their project in the meantime. The ROOL team are made up of ex-Acorn and ex-Tematic engineers.

According to ROOL's Steve Revill, there are four important steps to building RISC OS: First, you have to set up the project's directories, known as the 'build tree', on your local computer. Secondly, you have to choose what you wish to compile, such as the USB printing system, which involves using a special application with a user-interface to control the build system. Thirdly, you can launch the actual build process, and fourthly, check to see if anything went wrong in the logs.

Steve noted: "Checking the build log for problems is something of a black art. In the very simplest terms, if the thing you were building has popped out of the build and into 'Images' for a ROM image, or 'Install' for disc-based software, then you're most of the way there.

"However, you should still look for significant warnings and errors in the log file."

Steve also warned coders that the document is likely to be revised and updated as time passes.

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How to build RISC OS 5

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hzn 10/3/07 5:35PM	Hi drobe: How are the related articles found - offering "ROS powered 'weapon of mass distraction' unveiled" as related does seem a bit strange ... or on purpose
riscosopen (+3.5) 11/3/07 2:13AM	The document is still being worked on so don't be surprised if I change bits over the next few days/weeks.
CKH2 12/3/07 10:38AM	Will the RO build include a 32bit neutral version of ARMBE (the utility called up from BASIC via the EDIT command). Having the source available is not necessarily required to correct 26/32 bit compatability... It would be nice for BASIC to work properly on the Iyonix (as well as the A9).
nx (+1.0) 12/3/07 2:36PM	Good to see progress being made publically visible towards relasing the sources. nx
jeffd (+1.5) 15/3/07 7:49AM	*In reply to CKH2:* Try googling "armbe iyonix" and see what you get.