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==============================
Building Linux with Clang/LLVM
==============================
This document covers how to build the Linux kernel with Clang and LLVM
utilities.
About
-----
The Linux kernel has always traditionally been compiled with GNU toolchains
such as GCC and binutils. Ongoing work has allowed for `Clang
<https://clang.llvm.org/> `_ and `LLVM <https://llvm.org/> `_ utilities to be
used as viable substitutes. Distributions such as `Android
<https://www.android.com/> `_, ` ChromeOS
<https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os> `_, and ` OpenMandriva
<https://www.openmandriva.org/> `_ use Clang built kernels. ` LLVM is a
collection of toolchain components implemented in terms of C++ objects
<https://www.aosabook.org/en/llvm.html> `_. Clang is a front-end to LLVM that
supports C and the GNU C extensions required by the kernel, and is pronounced
"klang," not "see-lang."
Clang
-----
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The compiler used can be swapped out via `` CC= `` command line argument to `` make `` .
`` CC= `` should be set when selecting a config and during a build. ::
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make CC=clang defconfig
make CC=clang
Cross Compiling
---------------
A single Clang compiler binary will typically contain all supported backends,
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which can help simplify cross compiling. ::
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ARCH=arm64 CROSS_COMPILE=aarch64-linux-gnu- make CC=clang
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`` CROSS_COMPILE `` is not used to prefix the Clang compiler binary, instead
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`` CROSS_COMPILE `` is used to set a command line flag: `` --target=<triple> `` . For
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example: ::
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clang --target=aarch64-linux-gnu foo.c
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LLVM Utilities
--------------
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LLVM has substitutes for GNU binutils utilities. Kbuild supports `` LLVM=1 ``
to enable them. ::
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make LLVM=1
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They can be enabled individually. The full list of the parameters: ::
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make CC=clang LD=ld.lld AR=llvm-ar NM=llvm-nm STRIP=llvm-strip \
OBJCOPY=llvm-objcopy OBJDUMP=llvm-objdump OBJSIZE=llvm-size \
READELF=llvm-readelf HOSTCC=clang HOSTCXX=clang++ HOSTAR=llvm-ar \
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HOSTLD=ld.lld
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Currently, the integrated assembler is disabled by default. You can pass
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`` LLVM_IAS=1 `` to enable it.
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Getting Help
------------
- `Website <https://clangbuiltlinux.github.io/> `_
- `Mailing List <https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/clang-built-linux> `_ : <clang-built-linux@googlegroups.com>
- `Issue Tracker <https://github.com/ClangBuiltLinux/linux/issues> `_
- IRC: #clangbuiltlinux on chat.freenode.net
- `Telegram <https://t.me/ClangBuiltLinux> `_ : @ClangBuiltLinux
- `Wiki <https://github.com/ClangBuiltLinux/linux/wiki> `_
- `Beginner Bugs <https://github.com/ClangBuiltLinux/linux/issues?q=is%3Aopen+is%3Aissue+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22> `_
Getting LLVM
-------------
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- https://releases.llvm.org/download.html
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- https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project
- https://llvm.org/docs/GettingStarted.html
- https://llvm.org/docs/CMake.html
- https://apt.llvm.org/
- https://www.archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/llvm/
- https://github.com/ClangBuiltLinux/tc-build
- https://github.com/ClangBuiltLinux/linux/wiki/Building-Clang-from-source
- https://android.googlesource.com/platform/prebuilts/clang/host/linux-x86/