michael@0: ========
michael@0: Glossary
michael@0: ========
michael@0: 
michael@0: .. glossary::
michael@0:    :sorted:
michael@0: 
michael@0:    object directory
michael@0:        A directory holding the output of the build system. The build
michael@0:        system attempts to isolate all file modifications to this
michael@0:        directory. By convention, object directories are commonly
michael@0:        directories under the source directory prefixed with **obj-**.
michael@0:        e.g. **obj-firefox**.
michael@0: 
michael@0:    mozconfig
michael@0:        A shell script used to configure the build system.
michael@0: 
michael@0:    configure
michael@0:        A generated shell script which detects the current system
michael@0:        environment, applies a requested set of build configuration
michael@0:        options, and writes out metadata to be consumed by the build
michael@0:        system.
michael@0: 
michael@0:    config.status
michael@0:        An executable file produced by **configure** that takes the
michael@0:        generated build config and writes out files used to build the
michael@0:        tree. Traditionally, config.status writes out a bunch of
michael@0:        Makefiles.
michael@0: 
michael@0:    install manifest
michael@0:        A file containing metadata describing file installation rules.
michael@0:        A large part of the build system consists of copying files
michael@0:        around to appropriate places. We write out special files
michael@0:        describing the set of required operations so we can process the
michael@0:        actions effeciently. These files are install manifests.
michael@0: 
michael@0:    clobber build
michael@0:       A build performed with an initially empty object directory. All
michael@0:       build actions must be performed.
michael@0: 
michael@0:    incremental build
michael@0:       A build performed with the result of a previous build in an
michael@0:       object directory. The build should not have to work as hard because
michael@0:       it will be able to reuse the work from previous builds.
michael@0: 
michael@0:    mozinfo
michael@0:       An API for accessing a common and limited subset of the build and
michael@0:       run-time configuration. See :ref:`mozinfo`.