@@ -271,12 +271,9 @@ same root filename. The filenames can differ only in the file type
suffix used (e.g. ``formfactor_0.0.bb`` and
``formfactor_0.0.bbappend``).
-Information in append files extends or overrides the information in the
-underlying, similarly-named recipe files.
-
When you name an append file, you can use the "``%``" wildcard character
-to allow for matching recipe names. For example, suppose you have an
-append file named as follows::
+to allow for a less strict recipe name matching. For example, suppose you have
+an append file named as follows::
busybox_1.21.%.bbappend
@@ -290,12 +287,6 @@ the append file would match the following recipe names::
busybox_1.21.10.bb
busybox_1.21.11.bb
-.. note::
-
- The use of the " % " character is limited in that it only works directly in
- front of the .bbappend portion of the append file's name. You cannot use the
- wildcard character in any other location of the name.
-
If the ``busybox`` recipe was updated to ``busybox_1.3.0.bb``, the
append name would not match. However, if you named the append file
``busybox_1.%.bbappend``, then you would have a match.
@@ -303,6 +294,44 @@ append name would not match. However, if you named the append file
In the most general case, you could name the append file something as
simple as ``busybox_%.bbappend`` to be entirely version independent.
+The "``%``" character is a marker for BitBake, and everything after that marker
+will not be used for matching recipe names. That is, an append file named::
+
+ busybox_1.%.11.bbappend
+
+will match recipes named::
+
+ busybox_1.0.11.bb
+ busybox_1.2.bb
+ busybox_1.3.48.bb
+
+Note that the "``%``" character is not specific to the version part of the
+recipe name. That is, an append file named::
+
+ linux-yocto%.bbappend
+
+will match recipes named::
+
+ linux-yocto.bb
+ linux-yocto_6.18.bb
+ linux-yocto-tiny_6.12.bb
+ linux-yocto-rt_6.16.bb
+
+While it can be useful to append to similar recipes with slightly different
+names, it is highly discouraged to do so as recipes from other layers may be
+named similarly enough that the append file would unwittingly match them.
+
+A recipe named without a version may only be appended by an append file named
+exactly the same. That is, a recipe named::
+
+ mesa.bb
+
+can only be appended by an append file named::
+
+ mesa.bbappend
+
+That is, ``mesa_%.bbappend`` append file will not match a ``mesa.bb`` recipe.
+
Obtaining BitBake
=================