# Build Glossary

:::{glossary}
:sorted: true

object directory
: A directory holding the output of the build system. The build
  system attempts to isolate all file modifications to this
  directory. By convention, object directories are commonly
  directories under the source directory prefixed with **obj-**.
  e.g. **obj-firefox**.

mozconfig
: A shell script used to configure the build system.

configure
: A generated shell script which detects the current system
  environment, applies a requested set of build configuration
  options, and writes out metadata to be consumed by the build
  system.

config.status
: An executable file produced by **configure** that takes the
  generated build config and writes out files used to build the
  tree. Traditionally, config.status writes out a bunch of
  Makefiles.

install manifest
: A file containing metadata describing file installation rules.
  A large part of the build system consists of copying files
  around to appropriate places. We write out special files
  describing the set of required operations so we can process the
  actions efficiently. These files are install manifests.

clobber build
: A build performed with an initially empty object directory. All
  build actions must be performed.

incremental build
: A build performed with the result of a previous build in an
  object directory. The build should not have to work as hard because
  it will be able to reuse the work from previous builds.

mozinfo
: An API for accessing a common and limited subset of the build and
  run-time configuration. See {ref}`mozinfo`.
:::