Executive Summary
Embedded Linux systems appear in multiple shapes and forms. They vary from one another and are widespread across virtually every technology segment. This guide follows the progression of a developer’s choice when evaluating Yocto and Ubuntu Core, the two most popular options for embedded Linux.
The adoption of embedded systems, driven by the proliferation of cheap boards and coupled with the pervasiveness of network connectivity, is affecting virtually all sectors of society. After looking at what embedded Linux is, chapter I will explain the rationale behind its popularity and equip the readers with the necessary toolkit to understand the most pressing challenges facing enterprises within the embedded landscape.
Chapter II will provide a detailed assessment of the Yocto Project, and will review its history, architectural configuration and inner workings. Developers often choose Yocto for rapid evaluation, fast prototyping, and quick PoCs. Enterprises running embedded Linux in production and at scale, however, have requirements that a community-maintained build system struggles to meet. Hence, chapter II will clarify its value proposition and present an assessment of its drawbacks.
Chapter III will introduce the reader to Ubuntu Core, the enterprise-grade flavour of Ubuntu for embedded devices. We will discuss this variant of standard Ubuntu, the way it differs from its Desktop and Server counterparts, and how it is tailored to the embedded ecosystem.
Finally, chapter IV will provide a final assessment tying all previous considerations and analyses together.