Embedded Linux Distributions

Here is some information about embedded Linux distributions, and kernel configuration and build systems:

Vendor distros

 * Embedded Alley - see http://www.embeddedalley.com/
 * KaeilOS embedded linux
 * Lineo Solutions uLinux
 * MontaVista Linux - see http://www.mvista.com/products_services.php
 * RidgeRun Linux - see http://www.ridgerun.com/sdk.shtml
 * TimeSys LinuxLink - see http://www.timesys.com/products/index.htm
 * Ubuntu Mobile
 * Wind River - see http://www.windriver.com/products/linux/
 * Little Blue Linux - MPC Data

Other distros

 * Snapgear Embedded Linux Distribution - http://www.snapgear.org/
 * Open Wrt - http://openwrt.org/
 * Embedded Debian - http://www.emdebian.org/
 * Emdebian has made some significant progress the last few years, and has now reached an usable state. Two versions of Emdebian are available : Emdebian Grip and Emdebian Crush.
 * Neil Williams gave a talk Emdebian 1.0 release, small and super small Debian at the FOSDEM 2009. A video is available.
 * Embedded Gentoo - http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/embedded/index.xml

Special purpose embedded Linux distributions

 * Flash Linux - a distribution specifically for USB keys and Live CDs
 * Eagle Linux - http://www.safedesksolutions.com/eaglelinux/
 * An embedded Linux distribution aimed at helping users learn Linux by creating bootable Linux images "virtually from scratch". Eagle Linux 2.3 is currently distributed as a concise, 26-page PDF documenting the creation of a minimalist, network-ready Linux image for bootable CDs, floppies, or flash drives. See description at: http://ct.enews.deviceforge.com/rd/cts?d=207-106-2-28-5560-8662-0-0-0-1
 * uClinux A distribution targeting at systems without Memory Management Unit. See also UClinux Shared Library.

Configuration and Build systems

 * Open Embedded - System for building full embedded images from scratch
 * buildroot
 * Buildroot is a set of Makefiles and patches that makes it easy generate a cross-compilation toolchain and root filesystem for your target Linux system using the uClibc C library.
 * PTXdist
 * Kconfig based build system developed by Pengutronix
 * GPL licensed
 * Video of a talk given by PTXdist developer Peter Schwebel at FOSDEM 2009
 * Linux From Scratch
 * Qplus Target Builder - Target image builder from ETRI
 * LTIB - Linux Target Image Builder (by Stuart Hughes of FreeScale) - see http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/ltib
 * Slides and video of a talk on LTIB at the Ottawa Linux Symposium 2008


 * Building Embedded Userlands - Presentation by Ned Miljevic & Klaas van Gend at the ELC 2008 which compares different configuration and build systems. Video of the conference available.