xconfig

Xconfig is a graphical configuration tool associated with configuring the Linux kernel from its source tree. It provides a user interface built on a Qt-based frontend to help users select and adjust kernel options using the Kconfig system. When you run make xconfig from the root of the kernel source, the tool launches a GUI, displays available configuration options, and guides users with help text and dependencies. The choices you make are written to the .config file in the kernel source directory, which is then used by the build process to compile the custom kernel.

Requirements and scope

Xconfig requires a functional graphical environment and the appropriate Qt libraries for the frontend version used by the kernel you are configuring. The exact Qt version depends on the kernel release. It is typically run in an environment with X11, though it can be used in some headless workflows via remote display. Xconfig does not compile the kernel by itself; it only edits the configuration, which you then build with make.

Relation to other interfaces

The Linux kernel offers several configuration interfaces besides xconfig. Other common options include make menuconfig (a text-based ncurses interface) and make gconfig (a GTK-based graphical interface). Xconfig is one graphical alternative among these frontends, chosen for users who prefer a GUI and who have the necessary Qt support.

Usage context and limitations

Xconfig is commonly used by developers and advanced users to enable or disable hardware support, drivers, and kernel features. Some configurations may have dependencies or conflicts that the GUI helps to reveal. Not all distributions consistently ship or support building the xconfig frontend, and on some systems it may be unavailable if Qt is not installed or if the kernel source package excludes it.