2.3. Performing an Initial Build

  • Before building TF-A, the environment variable CROSS_COMPILE must point to your cross compiler.

    For AArch64:

    export CROSS_COMPILE=<path-to-aarch64-gcc>/bin/aarch64-none-elf-
    

    For AArch32:

    export CROSS_COMPILE=<path-to-aarch32-gcc>/bin/arm-none-eabi-
    

    It is possible to build TF-A using Clang or Arm Compiler 6. To do so CC needs to point to the clang or armclang binary, which will also select the clang or armclang assembler. Arm Compiler 6 will be selected when the base name of the path assigned to CC matches the string ‘armclang’. GNU binutils are required since the TF-A build system doesn’t currently support Arm Scatter files. Meaning the GNU linker is used by default for Arm Compiler 6. Because of this dependency, CROSS_COMPILE should be set as described above.

    For AArch64 using Arm Compiler 6:

    export CROSS_COMPILE=<path-to-aarch64-gcc>/bin/aarch64-none-elf-
    make CC=<path-to-armclang>/bin/armclang PLAT=<platform> all
    

    On the other hand, Clang uses LLVM linker (LLD) and other LLVM binutils by default instead of GNU utilities (LLVM linker (LLD) 14.0.0 is known to work with TF-A). CROSS_COMPILE need not be set for Clang. Please note, that the default linker may be manually overridden using the LD variable.

    Clang will be selected when the base name of the path assigned to CC contains the string ‘clang’. This is to allow both clang and clang-X.Y to work.

    For AArch64 using clang:

    make CC=<path-to-clang>/bin/clang PLAT=<platform> all
    
  • Change to the root directory of the TF-A source tree and build.

    For AArch64:

    make PLAT=<platform> all
    

    For AArch32:

    make PLAT=<platform> ARCH=aarch32 AARCH32_SP=sp_min all
    

    Notes:

    • If PLAT is not specified, fvp is assumed by default. See the Build Options document for more information on available build options.

    • (AArch32 only) Currently only PLAT=fvp is supported.

    • (AArch32 only) AARCH32_SP is the AArch32 EL3 Runtime Software and it corresponds to the BL32 image. A minimal AARCH32_SP, sp_min, is provided by TF-A to demonstrate how PSCI Library can be integrated with an AArch32 EL3 Runtime Software. Some AArch32 EL3 Runtime Software may include other runtime services, for example Trusted OS services. A guide to integrate PSCI library with AArch32 EL3 Runtime Software can be found at PSCI Library Integration guide for Armv8-A AArch32 systems.

    • (AArch64 only) The TSP (Test Secure Payload), corresponding to the BL32 image, is not compiled in by default. Refer to the Test Secure Payload (TSP) and Dispatcher (TSPD) document for details on building the TSP.

    • By default this produces a release version of the build. To produce a debug version instead, refer to the “Debugging options” section below.

    • The build process creates products in a build directory tree, building the objects and binaries for each boot loader stage in separate sub-directories. The following boot loader binary files are created from the corresponding ELF files:

      • build/<platform>/<build-type>/bl1.bin

      • build/<platform>/<build-type>/bl2.bin

      • build/<platform>/<build-type>/bl31.bin (AArch64 only)

      • build/<platform>/<build-type>/bl32.bin (mandatory for AArch32)

      where <platform> is the name of the chosen platform and <build-type> is either debug or release. The actual number of images might differ depending on the platform.

  • Build products for a specific build variant can be removed using:

    make DEBUG=<D> PLAT=<platform> clean
    

    … where <D> is 0 or 1, as specified when building.

    The build tree can be removed completely using:

    make realclean
    

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