OpenEmbedded

OpenEmbedded is a build framework and repository of metadata for creating embedded Linux systems. It provides a large collection of recipes that describe how to fetch, configure, compile, and package software components for target hardware. The build system centers on BitBake, a Python-based task executor that coordinates fetching sources, applying patches, compiling, and assembling final images.

Metadata in OpenEmbedded is organized into layers, which can be stacked and customized to support different hardware platforms, software stacks, and distributions. A machine configuration defines target hardware, while distro and image configurations specify runtime features and included packages. OpenEmbedded Core (OE-Core) is the central, maintained subset of metadata; additional layers supply board support packages and extra software.

OpenEmbedded is used to produce complete Linux images for a wide range of embedded devices, from single-board computers to custom hardware. It emphasizes reproducible builds, cross-compilation, and configurability, enabling developers to tailor distributions to size, performance, and feature constraints. The project has been foundational in the embedded Linux ecosystem and influenced the Yocto Project, which adopted and extended OpenEmbedded's build system and metadata; Poky, the Yocto reference distribution, is built on OE-Core and related layers. The ecosystem is maintained by a community of developers and industry contributors and supports multiple architectures, including x86, ARM, MIPS, and PowerPC.