This is the top level of the FreeBSD source directory. This file was last revised on:
$FreeBSD: src/README,v 1.22.12.2 2006/03/04 17:27:08 ceri Exp $

For copyright information, please see the file COPYRIGHT in this directory (additional copyright information also exists for some sources in this tree - please see the specific source directories for more information).

The Makefile in this directory supports a number of targets for building components (or all) of the FreeBSD source tree, the most commonly used one being ``world'', which rebuilds and installs everything in the FreeBSD system from the source tree except the kernel, the kernel-modules and the contents of /etc. The ``buildkernel'' and ``installkernel'' targets build and install the kernel and the modules (see below). Please see the top of the Makefile in this directory for more information on the standard build targets and compile-time flags.

Building a kernel is a somewhat more involved process, documentation for which can be found at:

http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/kernelconfig.html And in the config(8) man page.
Note: If you want to build and install the kernel with the ``buildkernel'' and ``installkernel'' targets, you might need to build world before. More information is available in the handbook.

The sample kernel configuration files reside in the sys/<arch>/conf sub-directory (assuming that you've installed the kernel sources), the file named GENERIC being the one used to build your initial installation kernel. The file NOTES contains entries and documentation for all possible devices, not just those commonly used. It is the successor of the ancient LINT file, but in contrast to LINT, it is not buildable as a kernel but a pure reference and documentation file.

Source Roadmap:

bin System/user commands.

contrib Packages contributed by 3rd parties.

crypto Cryptography stuff (see crypto/README).

etc Template files for /etc.

games Amusements.

gnu             Various commands and libraries under the GNU Public License.
                Please see gnu/COPYING* for more information.

include         System include files.

kerberos5       Kerberos5 (Heimdal) package.

lib             System libraries.

libexec         System daemons.

release         Release building Makefile & associated tools.

rescue          Build system for statically linked /rescue utilities.

sbin            System commands.

secure          Cryptographic libraries and commands.

share           Shared resources.

sys             Kernel sources.

tools           Utilities for regression testing and miscellaneous tasks.

usr.bin         User commands.

usr.sbin        System administration commands.

For information on synchronizing your source tree with one or more of the FreeBSD Project's development branches, please see:

http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/synching.html