Linux distribution choice for i.MX6 based product

[marlonsmith]

Hi everyone,

I'm working on a product which is based on the i.MX6 chip, and I'm trying to decide which Linux distribution to use.

It seems like the easiest thing to do would be to download the Wandboard Ubuntu image, and modify it to work on my custom hardware. From there, I could simply compile my application on the board.

I've thought about using Yocto, but I don't see the advantage to compiling the whole system myself when I can simply use Ubuntu and get any supporting packages I need via the package manager.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

Marlon

[w2vy]

With the Yocto Project who controls what kernel patches that are applied to Poky?

With Ubuntu it is well known that Canonical makes their best effort to insure each release is high quality, secure and stable because they need to protect their brand (Ubuntu)

In the Yocto scripts I see references to OpenEmbedded so the big question is what is the revision control of what we use?

Is it the HEAD version (Bleeding Edge) or is there some level of control?

I also see that the Yocto Project is a Member of The Linux Foundation.

A lot of us hate all the updates our desktops get (no matter which OS) but in the long term we can't live without them!

Tom

[marlonsmith]

I am working with a custom board, and I've been able to boot a modified kernel using both Yocto and Ubuntu.

The factors I'm considering are:

- Ubuntu for Wandboard seems to be more stable - after building a Yocto dora system and running it, I quickly ran into issues using my application with X.

- Yocto would make it easier to build my application - I had a lot of trouble cross-compiling my Qt application for X on Ubuntu, and eventually gave up and compiled it on the board.

- For stability and use with production, it is necessary to be able to freeze the source at a certain point.  I'm not sure what the best way is to do this yet for either Ubuntu or Yocto, although I'm concerned about relying on Ubuntu repositories for a product we are manufacturing.

[kmohi]

Hi

I am opening this topic as i have the same issue of deciding the linux distribution for developing with iMx board

Does this board come with a linux distribution ??

Best Regards

[marlonsmith]

I chose Yocto, and although there's a bit of a learning curve it produces good results.

[LeonardoSandova · Accepted solution]

>>Hi everyone,

>>I'm working on a product which is based on the i.MX6 chip, and I'm trying to decide which Linux distribution to use.

Are you designing a custom board?

>>It seems like the easiest thing to do would be to download the Wandboard Ubuntu image, and modify it to work on my custom hardware. From there, I could simply compile my application on the board.

Do not download a image if you want do development. Better to have the Yocto recipes and bake these. Do not do native compilation, unless the app you are compiling needs so.

>>I've thought about using Yocto, but I don't see the advantage to compiling the whole system myself when I can simply use Ubuntu and get any supporting packages I need via the package manager.

You can try also Ubuntu, but personally I would go developing the App under Yocto and following all GNU coding standards. This way your app would be fully portable.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

Marlon

[SergioSolis]

I think both are good options.

If you already know yocto, then I would go that way too. Leonardo makes very good points there.