Yocto, Buildroot, PTXdist, Elbe: Embedded build systems in comparison
Yocto
Yocto is the best-known build tool for embedded Linux. It consists of Poky, an open source reference embedded distribution, the OpenEmbedded project, an open source build engine and metadata for embedded Linux.
Yocto allows you to build your own Linux distributions using shell and Python scripts and recipes. In addition to the sources maintained by the Yocto Project, almost all hardware manufacturers offer support for cross-compilation, so that almost all hardware systems are supported.
Buildroot
Buildroot is another open source build tool supported by the Buildroot Association. It is based on Makefiles and uses kconfig for configuration. The kconfig interface is used to create various configuration files that are used in the build process. All files are loaded as source code and compiled for the target hardware. Buildroot also enables the creation of a customized kernel.
PTXdist
PTXdist was developed by Pengutronix and is also an open source build system. Originally started as a fork of Buildroot, PTXdist has since developed independently and offers additional functions that are not available in Buildroot. PTXdist also uses kconfig for configuration and is based on Makefiles and bash scripts.
PTXdist collects all source files and cross-compiles them for the target hardware. Due to further developments, however, PTXdist is no longer compatible with Buildroot.
Elbe
Elbe (Embedded Linux Build Environment) is a Debian-based build system that creates rootfs using XML configuration files. It uses the Debian package repository and does not cross-compile standard tools. Packages can be installed and the rootfs generated in a QEMU environment. Elbe also creates an SDK with which applications can be cross-compiled for the target hardware.
Comparison criteria
Various criteria should be taken into account when selecting the right build tool. These help to fulfill the specific requirements of a project:
- Complexity & effort: How easy is it to set up a project, incorporate changes and what are the build times and resource requirements?
- Flexibility & adaptability: Can custom components be integrated and standard components adapted? Is it possible to define the startup configuration (e.g. systemd) during the build? Can the build tool be extended or customized?
- Community & documentation: How big is the community and is there good documentation? Is there support via IRC, mailing lists or forums?
- Hardware support: What hardware is supported? Do hardware manufacturers provide components and can an image of the required size be created?
- Compliance: Is an SBOM (Software Bill of Materials) generated automatically? Is there support for dependency tracking, and can the build be carried out in a pipeline using continuous integration? Are the results reproducible?
Comparison
The following table compares the build tools described based on the example criteria mentioned above. The scale + (good), 0 (neutral), - (bad) is used for the evaluation.
- Yocto: Offers extensive functions and high flexibility and expandability. The large community and good documentation are advantages. The disadvantage is the high complexity, which makes the tool more difficult for beginners.
- Buildroot: Easy to use and fast for first projects. It has broad hardware support, but lacks CI integration, which can be a disadvantage.
- Elbe: Also has low complexity and uses Debian packages, which fulfills many compliance requirements. The disadvantage is less flexibility, as all packages must be “debianized” and the kernel is not created directly in the build process.
- PTXdist: Offers good compliance options and flexibility. However, the community is smaller, which can lead to less support.
For most projects, Yocto might be the best choice due to its extensive features and large community. However, if a simple system without extensive customization is desired, Buildroot or Elbe might be better suited. It is important to consider the specific requirements of the project to make the right choice.
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