Customizing the Platform

Docker Compose Apps are the recommended way to create applications but you are also allowed to customize and change the platform according to your needs.

Customization in the platform is usually useful when you need to add packages to the platform, customize the Linux for specific hardware requirements, update the Linux microPlatform, and so on.

Foundries.io frequently updates the Linux microPlatform for the reference hardwares; however, the updates are not automatically applied to your Factory. You are responsible to apply updates to your platform.

When you create your Factory, four repositories are created, including: lmp-manifest.git and meta-subscriber-overrides.git.

The lmp-manifest.git contains a manifest file which gather the meta-layers used to build your image. This is the repository you should change to update your platform to newer Linux microPlatform versions. For more information, read Updating the Linux microPlatform Core.

The meta-subscriber-overrides is the suggested meta-layer for customization. That layer is a high-priority layer and it gives you the power to change anything on the platform.

This tutorial guides you through simple meta-subscriber-overrides customization. The same shellhttpd application used in previous tutorials, such as: Getting Started with Docker, Creating your first Target and Deploying your first Application is being added to your platform and is executed during boot.

Tip

If you are not familiar with the Yocto Project/OpenEmbedded source code you can still follow this tutorial. FoundriesFactory CI will help making it simple by building the platform in the cloud.

Note

Estimated Time to Complete this Tutorial: 20 minutes

Learning Objectives

  • Introduce platform customization.
  • Create shellhttpd recipe.
  • Receive a platform update.
  • Test the built-in application.

Prerequisites