Build Marlin firmware using docker

This docker image contains platformio-core and a bash script, for conveniently compiling Marlin firmware with your own configuration.

Compiling firmware

To use this image, you need to provide a folder containing your *.h configuration files. All files with this extension will be copied to the Marlin/ folder, replacing existing configuration files.

Configuration examples for most Marlin based 3d-printers can be found here.

You also need to set the BOARD environment variable, this should contain the default_envs value for your 3d-printer control board. This value can in most cases be found the vendor page/repo, or in firmware guides by the community.

docker-compose

You can create a .env file with the variables BOARD, MARLIN_FIRMWARE and MARLIN_CONFIGURATION next to the docker-compose.yml file, or set the variables in your shell.

There is an example .env file in the examples/ folder.

Run docker-compose run build to compile the marlin firmware.

docker run

You can source a .env file (such as the one provided in the examples/ folder), set the shell variables manually or alter the environment and path arguments with values.

docker run --rm -it \
  -e BOARD \
  -v $MARLIN_FIRMWARE:/home/platformio/build \
  -v $MARLIN_CONFIGURATION:/home/platformio/CustomConfiguration \
  frealmyr/marlin-build:latest

Github Action

You can create a github action that automatically builds and pushes the firmware file when you make a commit containing changes in your CustomConfiguration files.

Simply copy the github-action.yml file provided in Examples/ to .github/workflows/ in your personal repository.

You can alter the folders to your liking. I recommend adding your *.h configuration files to a folder named Firmware/Configuration, and use Firmware/builds for the compiled firmware output. If you make changes to the folder structure, remember to alter the monitored path in the github action yaml.

When you push a commit with configuration changes to master, you can check the yellow dot next to your commit, or navigate to the Actions to view the terminal output for the github action.

A live example of this setup is available here: https://github.com/frealmyr/3d-lab

Docker environment variables

Variable	Description	Required	Example value
BOARD	Platformio default_envs	yes	`STM32F103RET6_creality`
UPDATE_SKIP	Skip firmware update prompt	no	`true`
UPDATE_FORCE	Update to latest Marlin release	no	`true`
USE_TAG	Compile using a specific release tag	no	`2.0.7.1`
USE_BRANCH	Compile using a branch instead of latest tag	no	`bugfix-2.0.x`

Different branches and tag versions might use a different CONFIGURATION_H_VERSION, firmware build will fail in such a case. Requiring you to update your configuration files with upstream changes.

Docker volume mounts

Location inside container	Description
/home/platformio/build	Output folder for compiled firmware
/home/platformio/CustomConfiguration	Input folder for custom configuration