topic Re: iMX51 which solutions nowadays? in i.MX Processors

iMX51 which solutions nowadays?

SteMMo — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:00:50 GMT

Hi all,

I own some custom boards based on iMX51 and I'd like to reactivate them.

I'm wondering nowadays how to develope a simple graphic application on this boards (10" display + touch, i2c communication). The application, of course, depends on the OS below.

The first solutions in my mind are:

- bare-metal .. too much work ..

- simple tailored Linux (Debian, Ubuntu)

- Linux based on Yocto

- Android

The main problem now is that I'm not able to find any BSP, kernel or Yocto config file.

Any other idea or link?

What is your idea/suggestion?

Thanks!

Re: iMX51 which solutions nowadays?

JorgeCas — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 20:10:48 GMT

Hello,

There is no official Linux for i.MX51 since 2.6.35. Sorry for the inconvenience.

However we have an Application Note regarding to build OS'es for "old" i.MX processors such as i.MX51:

Building for i.MX Mature Boards

Best regards.

Re: iMX51 which solutions nowadays?

SteMMo — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:35:08 GMT

@JorgeCas thanks a lot for reply.

Now, I'm following the document pointing to the imx51evk configuration, just to start; then I will define my custom machine..

The problem is the bitbake command (with or without command line parameters) that returns:

$ bitbake
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/media/stefano/c7106e2a-fc9d-4581-a077-351672084a5b/fsl-community-bsp/sources/poky/bitbake/bin/bitbake", line 31, in <module>
import bb
File "/media/stefano/c7106e2a-fc9d-4581-a077-351672084a5b/fsl-community-bsp/sources/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/__init__.py", line 77, in <module>
import bb.msg
File "/media/stefano/c7106e2a-fc9d-4581-a077-351672084a5b/fsl-community-bsp/sources/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/msg.py", line 32, in <module>
import bb.event
File "/media/stefano/c7106e2a-fc9d-4581-a077-351672084a5b/fsl-community-bsp/sources/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/event.py", line 34, in <module>
import bb.utils
File "/media/stefano/c7106e2a-fc9d-4581-a077-351672084a5b/fsl-community-bsp/sources/poky/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py", line 30, in <module>
import imp
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'imp'

In my environment (Debian 13 amd64) the python is:

$ python --version
Python 2.7.18

Regards

Re: iMX51 which solutions nowadays?

SteMMo — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:21:20 GMT

Now I see the the script are recalling Python3 and my version is 3.13.5 where 'imp' is deprecated.

I guess I need to update poke or downgrade python3 .. is it?

Re: iMX51 which solutions nowadays?

JorgeCas — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:48:50 GMT

Hello,

Please try to check with a different Python version.

Do you get the same error if you build core-image-base?

Best regards.