CrossArm

CrossArm sets up a Docker-based ARM GNU/Linux cross-compilation environment with a host-mounted sysroot and a launcher script.

Supported toolchains

Currently available through install.sh:

• arm-linux-gnueabihf (7.2-2017.11)

You can list supported versions with:

./install.sh --list-versions

Requirements

install.sh expects these programs to be installed on the host:

• docker
• wget
• tar
• sed

No root is required for a normal install.

Install

Default install:

./install.sh

By default this creates:

• Docker image: crossarm
• Sysroot directory: ~/.crossarm/crossarm-arm
• Launcher script: ~/.local/bin/crossarm-arm

If ~/.local/bin is not in your PATH, add it before using the launcher.

Show all install options:

./install.sh --help

Common options

-a, --architecture ARCH
    Toolchain architecture (default: arm-linux-gnueabihf)

-v, --architecture-version VERSION
    Toolchain version (default: 7.2-2017.11)

-s, --suffix NAME
    Launcher/sysroot suffix (default: arm)

--launcher-path PATH
    Install path for the launcher script (default: ~/.local/bin)

--sysroot-path PATH
    Host path where the downloaded toolchain is stored (default: ~/.crossarm)

-n, --no-cache
    Build Docker image without cache

--dry-run
    Print commands without executing them

-u, --uninstall
    Remove installed sysroot and launcher

-V, --version
    Print installer version

Usage

Open an interactive shell for the current directory:

crossarm-arm

Mount a different project directory:

crossarm-arm /path/to/project

Run a command directly inside the container:

crossarm-arm -c "cmake -S . -B build"

Environment inside the container

The container sets these useful variables:

• CROSS_COMPILE (for example arm-linux-gnueabihf-)
• SYSROOT
• CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN (points to /crossarm/toolchain.cmake)

Toolchain binaries are added to PATH, so this works in the container:

${CROSS_COMPILE}gcc main.c -o main

For CMake, either use the env var or pass the file explicitly:

cmake -S . -B build -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE="$CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN"

Uninstall

Remove launcher + sysroot:

./install.sh -u

The Docker image is not removed automatically. Remove it manually if needed:

docker rmi crossarm