NXP Debian Linux SDK for i.MX and Layerscape

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The NXP Debian Linux SDK distribution for i.MX and Layerscape is a combination of NXP-provided kernel and boot loaders with a Debian distro user-space image. It provides the necessary drivers, tools, and libraries required to enable features of the Arm-based i.MX and Layerscape processors with a Debian distro user space image. It enables quick evaluation with widely available deb packages on select i.MX and Layerscape processors.

User Guide

Software Details

Diagram

NXP Debian Linux SDK

Get diagram PDF

Features

Build System

Flexbuild hosted at GitHub

Distro Variant

Debian Base (basic packages)
Debian Server (more packages without GUI Desktop)
Debian Desktop (with GNOME GUI Desktop)

Advantages

Debian is widely used in the embedded market for its stability, its choice and control of a vast software repository with over 118000 packages, long-term support with security updates for at least 5 years and high customizability for users who require control over their system.

The Board Support Package (BSP) with the Debian root file system includes the following advantages to help developers get started quickly:

A familiar desktop GUI that leverages NXP devices’ display capabilities
Simple package management using Debian’s Advance Package Tool, which enables adding the software without recompiling the whole image
Simple open-source licensing terms that enable easy modifications and distribution by both NXP and our customers
With NXP’s included Flexbuild application, it is quick to create an image on an SD card for the evaluation boards

There are three ways to use the Linux enablement software from NXP:

As a complete reference integration with the NXP Debian distro user-space which allows users to quickly deploy and test-drive various features on an i.MX or Layerscape evaluation platform
As individual components including kernel drivers, ATF, U-Boot boot loader, firmware, and user-space libraries that can be integrated into a Linux distribution. These components form the basis for integration into community, commercial, and customer Linux distributions
As part of open source communities like kernel.org, dpdk.org, denx.de (U-Boot)