documentation: BB_NUMBER_THREADS and PARALLEL_MAKE suggestions

Text that suggests setting the BB_NUMBER_THREADS and
PARALLEL_MAKE variables to speed build time has been updated to
suggest a setting of twice the number of host cores supported.

The 2x number came to light through a discussion on the project
mailing list initiated by Robert P. J. Day.

Reported-by: Robert P. J. Day
(From yocto-docs rev: 1846b41a595b7bd905ca828eaa04112d1533d7a1)

Signed-off-by: Scott Rifenbark <scott.m.rifenbark@intel.com>
Signed-off-by: Richard Purdie <richard.purdie@linuxfoundation.org>
This commit is contained in:
Scott Rifenbark 2011-11-16 09:42:53 -08:00 committed by Richard Purdie
parent 4cb3862f6a
commit affc8b985a
4 changed files with 11 additions and 14 deletions

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@ -562,9 +562,10 @@
You should also be sure any other variables in which you are interested are set. You should also be sure any other variables in which you are interested are set.
Some variables to consider are <filename>BB_NUMBER_THREADS</filename> Some variables to consider are <filename>BB_NUMBER_THREADS</filename>
and <filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename>, both of which can greatly reduce your build time and <filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename>, both of which can greatly reduce your build time
if you are using a multi-threaded development system (e.g. values of if your development system supports multiple cores.
<filename>8</filename> and <filename>j 6</filename>, respectively are optimal For development systems that support multiple cores, a good rule of thumb is to set
for a development machine that has four available cores).</para></listitem> both the <filename>BB_NUMBER_THREADS</filename> and <filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename>
variables to twice the number of cores your system supports.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>Update the <filename>bblayers.conf</filename> file so that it includes <listitem><para>Update the <filename>bblayers.conf</filename> file so that it includes
the path to your new BSP layer. the path to your new BSP layer.
In this example you need to include the pathname to <filename>meta-mymachine</filename>. In this example you need to include the pathname to <filename>meta-mymachine</filename>.

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@ -221,9 +221,9 @@
If your host development system supports multi-core and multi-thread capabilities, If your host development system supports multi-core and multi-thread capabilities,
you can uncomment these statements and set the variables to significantly shorten you can uncomment these statements and set the variables to significantly shorten
the full build time. the full build time.
As a guideline, set <filename>BB_NUMBER_THREADS</filename> to twice the number As a guideline, set both <filename>BB_NUMBER_THREADS</filename> and
of cores your machine supports and set <filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename> to one and <filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename> to twice the number
a half times the number of cores your machine supports. of cores your machine supports.
</note> </note>
</para> </para>
<para> <para>
@ -390,9 +390,8 @@
build time if your host supports multi-core and multi-thread capabilities: build time if your host supports multi-core and multi-thread capabilities:
<filename>BB_NUMBER_THREADS</filename> and <filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename>. <filename>BB_NUMBER_THREADS</filename> and <filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename>.
If the host system has multiple cores then you can optimize build time If the host system has multiple cores then you can optimize build time
by setting <filename>BB_NUMBER_THREADS</filename> to twice the number of by setting both these variables to twice the number of
cores and setting <filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename> to one and a half times the cores.</para></listitem>
number of cores.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><emphasis>Identify Your <filename>meta-kernel-dev</filename> <listitem><para><emphasis>Identify Your <filename>meta-kernel-dev</filename>
Layer:</emphasis> The <filename>BBLAYERS</filename> variable in the Layer:</emphasis> The <filename>BBLAYERS</filename> variable in the
<filename>bblayers.conf</filename> file found in the <filename>bblayers.conf</filename> file found in the

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@ -927,7 +927,7 @@
This variable is usually in the form <filename>-j 4</filename>, where the number This variable is usually in the form <filename>-j 4</filename>, where the number
represents the maximum number of parallel threads make can run. represents the maximum number of parallel threads make can run.
If you development host supports multiple cores a good rule of thumb is to set If you development host supports multiple cores a good rule of thumb is to set
this variable to one and a half times the number of cores on the host.</para> this variable to twice the number of cores on the host.</para>
</glossdef> </glossdef>
</glossentry> </glossentry>

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@ -410,11 +410,8 @@
<ulink url='http://www.yoctoproject.org/docs/latest/poky-ref-manual/poky-ref-manual.html#var-PARALLEL_MAKE'><filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename></ulink> variables. <ulink url='http://www.yoctoproject.org/docs/latest/poky-ref-manual/poky-ref-manual.html#var-PARALLEL_MAKE'><filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename></ulink> variables.
By default, these variables are commented out. By default, these variables are commented out.
However, if you have a multi-core CPU you might want to uncomment However, if you have a multi-core CPU you might want to uncomment
the lines and set the variable the lines and set both variables equal to twice the number of your
<filename>BB_NUMBER_THREADS</filename> equal to twice the number of your
host's processor cores. host's processor cores.
Also, you could set the variable <filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename> equal to
1.5 times the number of processor cores.
Setting these variables can significantly shorten your build time. Setting these variables can significantly shorten your build time.
</para> </para>