This repository is the Armbian build framework — an embedded Linux build system for generating custom operating system images tailored to single-board computers, primarily targeting ARM and RISC-V architectures. The build process is orchestrated by GNU Makefiles and relies on a chroot-based environment to assemble the root filesystem, manage cross-compilation toolchains, and aggregate binary firmware blobs for hardware compatibility. Kernel and bootloader source trees are fetched via git, with structured patches applied in a controlled sequence, while each supported board is described by a dedicated configuration directory specifying device trees, kernel config fragments, and bootloader parameters.
The framework supports multiple build methods — native compilation, cross-compilation, and containerized builds — enabling reproducible OS images from a single host system. Users can select specific kernel versions, device trees, firmware packages, and system optimizations to produce hardware-tuned images that are resource-efficient for low-memory devices. A containerized build pipeline provides isolated, reproducible environments, and the project also includes a dedicated kernel and bootloader builder that compiles and packages these components for each target board.
All board-specific and user-customizable settings are processed through modular shell scripts that source configuration files and define build variables, offering fine-grained control over the final image. The repository includes documentation and example configurations to guide users through the build process from cloning the source to producing a bootable SD card image.
