Package usage

Even if Buildroot doesn't fully handle packages like debian/OpenEmbbeded and will probably never do ([1]), you can still generate a package for your custom application and use it to update it on field, thanks to opkg.

Install opkg on target

$ make menuconfig

Package Selection for the target  --->
    Package managers  --->
        [*] opkg

$ make

• reflash the rootfs on your APF

Generate a package for your app

• we assume that you already integrated your application in Buildroot and that buildroot/package/my_app/ is existing.
• create a "control" file that will describe your application for opkg (buildroot/package/my_app/opkg/control):

Package: my-app
Version: 2.0.800
Description: My application
Section: applications
Priority: optional
Maintainer: Me
Architecture: arm
Homepage:
Source:
Depends:

• add a new compile rule in buildroot/package/my_app/my_app.mk

MY_APP_PACKAGE_DIR = $(BUILD_DIR)/my_app_package

define MY_APP_BUILD_CMDS
        mkdir -p $(MY_APP_PACKAGE_DIR)/CONTROL
        cp ./package/my_app/opkg/control $(MY_APP_PACKAGE_DIR)/CONTROL/
        mkdir -p $(MY_APP_PACKAGE_DIR)/usr/local/bin
        cp -a $(@D)/my_app $(MY_APP_PACKAGE_DIR)/usr/local/bin
        sh ./package/opkg/opkg-build $(MY_APP_PACKAGE_DIR) $(BINARIES_DIR)
endef