Our embedded Linux development services bring efficiency, control, and innovation to your projects.
Embedded Linux takes the Linux kernel, the same kernel that runs servers and desktops, and strips it down to the specific hardware and application needs of an embedded product. The advantage is a large base of existing drivers, filesystems, and networking code to build from, rather than writing every layer of the system from scratch, as part of our broader embedded software and firmware development work.
Choosing embedded Linux is one platform decision among several. We work across Zephyr, FreeRTOS, ThreadX, and Android as well, so the recommendation to use embedded Linux comes from a product’s actual requirements, not from a habit of defaulting to one platform. It tends to be the right call when a product needs the processing power for a modern user interface, complex networking, or an application layer that a lighter real-time operating system can’t support.
Our embedded Linux work includes products built on the NXP i.MX 8M family, using both the Nano and Plus variants, and on the Rockchip RK3399.
This is the problem most clients engage us to solve. Getting embedded Linux running on new hardware means kernel driver work and board support package (BSP) development: bringing up peripherals, buses and custom hardware that the mainline kernel and the supplier’s BSP don’t already support.
This is also the highest-risk part of a project, which is why we verify supplier code delivery before starting new development.
Our embedded Linux process follows the same test-driven, desktop-simulation approach we use across every platform we work on:
This keeps the highest-risk parts of an embedded Linux project, driver bring-up and system integration, from becoming a late-stage surprise.
The build system that generates the Linux image, most commonly Yocto or Buildroot, is usually supplied by the vendor rather than chosen from scratch. Suppliers deliver their board support package built around one of the two. NXP’s i.MX 8M platforms use Yocto, while Rockchip’s RK3399 uses Buildroot.
We have no preference between them and work with whichever the supplier provides. The alternative is months of development just to reach the point the supplier’s delivery already gets to.
For teams still choosing a processor, the build system is worth weighing during supplier selection, alongside cost, availability and support. Yocto suits products that need to support multiple hardware variants over several years. Buildroot suits smaller, fixed-function products where speed to a first working image matters more than long-term flexibility. View our article on Yocto vs Buildroot for more information.
We plan our embedded Linux programming implementation before starting. We consider: what is the expected environment? Do we need to consider power optimisation before starting? Where does the hard work happen, and do we need to research performance before beginning?
At Bermondsey Electronics, we are experts in debugging these platforms using in-place tools, which allows us to quickly identify and resolve any issues that arise during embedded Linux development. We also have experience developing embedded Linux operating systems with MCU co-processors, working closely with our clients to determine when this is necessary.
Our embedded linux development team is highly skilled in utilising technologies like qt and u-boot to create fit-for-purpose systems that meet the needs of our clients in a variety of markets.
Whilst embedded C and C++ are the most commonly used languages on these embedded Linux operating systems, we are also experienced in integrating runtimes for other languages such as Python, depending on your unique requirements. Get in touch for more information.
Do you have a product under development that must function exactly as intended and exhibit high reliability in the field? If so, we can help.
We are committed to delivering exceptional embedded Linux operating system solutions that meet and exceed our client’s expectations. Our team specialises in embedded Linux programming, creating efficient, reliable software tailored to your hardware and application needs. Contact us today for more information about our embedded Linux development services.
Bermondsey Electronics Limited is a highly experienced embedded firmware system design house providing embedded development, design verification and HIL testing. Active in multiple industries, our design and verification services shorten and de-risk product launches. Our embedded Linux development services enable customers to go to market with increased confidence in their products and peace of mind that they have been functionally verified.
In addition to providing embedded Linux development services, we have expertise in working with a range of operating systems, including Android, Zephyr, FreeRTOS and ThreadX.
A Linux device is any piece of hardware, such as an embedded system, computer, or IoT device, that runs on the Linux operating system. Linux is an open-source, Unix-like OS known for its stability, flexibility, and security. Devices using Linux range from everyday electronics like smart TVs and routers to complex systems in the medical and automotive industries.
Although it uses the same kernel, an embedded Linux operating system is quite different from standard Linux. Tailored for embedded systems, it is much smaller, requires less processing power, and includes only the essential features needed to run device-specific applications.
The benefits of using embedded Linux operating systems include:
If the application requires complex processing without strict real-time constraints, embedded Linux programming is often the ideal solution. It’s well-suited for developing networking systems such as routers, as well as advanced applications in computer vision or machine learning.
Our embedded Linux development services help customise and optimise Linux for embedded systems, ensuring devices run efficiently, securely, and reliably. From hardware integration to performance tuning, we make sure your embedded applications deliver the best results.
Yocto suits products that need to support multiple hardware variants over several years, while Buildroot suits smaller, fixed-function products where getting a first working image running quickly matters more than long-term flexibility. In most projects the choice follows the processor supplier, whose board support package is built around one or the other.
Yes. Some engagements start with a scoping conversation about whether embedded Linux is the right platform at all, before any development work begins, rather than assuming the platform decision has already been made. No internal link fits this one naturally.
Yes, including kernel driver development, board support package bring-up, and device tree configuration for hardware not already supported by the mainline kernel. No internal link fits this one either, for the same reason as the Driver and BSP block above.
A BSP is the software that lets Linux run on a specific board: the bootloader, kernel configuration, device tree and drivers. Yes, we bring up BSPs on new or modified hardware. Where the processor supplier provides one, we build on it. Often this means adding frameworks or other significant software packages to the build.
Yes. We develop the application layer in C and C++, build user interfaces with Qt, and integrate runtimes such as Python where they suit the product.
Yes. We plan for power before development starts, because it affects processor choice, peripheral design and how the system sleeps and wakes. The work covers power management at kernel and driver level as well as how the application behaves.
If you have any questions about our embedded Linux development services and how we can help your business please complete the form below and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.
Alternatively, please call us on +44 (0)208 137 9239
Email : [email protected]
