Arch Linux

T-Dawg

Forum Fellow

From: Charlotte, NC

Registered: 2005-01-29

Posts: 2,736

make randconfig

tyler@cobalt ~ $ cd /usr/src/linux*
tyler@cobalt /usr/src/linux $ make help |grep random
  randconfig      - New config with random answer to all options

:?:
Why would someone want a random kernel? 'Sup with dat?

PJ

Member

From: Sweden

Registered: 2005-10-11

Posts: 602

Re: make randconfig

I am not completely sure about this, just guessing. 

I would use something like that to solve dependency problems inside the kernel. Imagine a script that has one task and that is to build kernel with randomized configs. Sooner or later it will find something that doesn't build properly, which will then result in a bug-report.

iphitus

Forum Fellow

From: Melbourne, Australia

Registered: 2004-10-09

Posts: 4,927

Re: make randconfig

testing. finding build errors, finding various combinations that won't build together, because often that may highlight bugs, either build or otherwise. there's a lot of two/three state options, so building with the same config could easily miss combinations.

On the other hand, most developers wouldnt use it -- being focused on their own subsystem and areas. It would probably be most useful on a dedicated build box, repeating builds over and over checking for faults. 

James

tomk

Forum Fellow

From: Ireland

Registered: 2004-07-21

Posts: 9,839

Re: make randconfig

/me builds kernel26rand

I know what you're thinking. "Did he use oldconfig or randconfig?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is 2.6.19-rc5-mm1, the most bleeding-edge kernel source in the world, and could blow your system away, you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, geek?

Research material for this post provided by imdb.com

T-Dawg

Forum Fellow

From: Charlotte, NC

Registered: 2005-01-29

Posts: 2,736

Re: make randconfig

/me builds kernel26rand

I know what you're thinking. "Did he use oldconfig or randconfig?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is 2.6.19-rc5-mm1, the most bleeding-edge kernel source in the world, and could blow your system away, you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, geek?

Research material for this post provided by imdb.com

Thanks guys, that makes more sense than my "linus must have been drunk" theory.