Training > IoT & Embedded Development > Embedded Linux Development (LFD450)
INSTRUCTOR-LED COURSE

Embedded Linux Development (LFD450)

Learn to develop embedded Linux products step by step—set up a development system, configure boot loaders, the kernel, drivers, and device trees, and build a user space root filesystem. Hands-on labs with a RISC-V-based emulated target provide practical experience across industries like electronics, medical, and automotive.

Who Is It For
This course is for experienced developers who need to develop an embedded Linux product from the ground up.
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What You’ll Learn
In this course you will learn about the Linux kernel architecture, emphasizing the essential points relevant to adapting the kernel to a custom embedded platform. The course also covers techniques for right-sizing systems to meet project constraints, the multitude of resources available for constructing a cross development environment for embedded projects, the options available for populating libraries and application user-spaces to meet the goals and constraints of embedded systems, and more.
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What It Prepares You For
The course will prepare you to use the tools and techniques necessary for developing embedded Linux devices.
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Course Outline
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Introduction
- Objectives
- Who You Are
- The Linux Foundation
- Copyright and No Confidential Information
- Linux Foundation Training
- Certification Programs and Digital Badging
- Linux Distributions
- Platforms
- Preparing Your System
- Things change in Linux
- Documentation and Links
Preliminaries
- Linux Distributions
- Virtual Machine Installation
- Procedures
- Labs
How to Work in OSS Projects **
- Overview on How to Contribute Properly
- Know Where the Code is Coming From: DCO and CLA
- Stay Close to Mainline for Security and Quality
- Study and Understand the Project DNA
- Figure Out What Itch You Want to Scratch
- Identify Maintainers and Their Work Flows and Methods
- Get Early Input and Work in the Open
- Contribute Incremental Bits, Not Large Code Dumps
- Leave Your Ego at the Door: Don’t Be Thin-Skinned
- Be Patient, Develop Long Term Relationships, Be Helpful
Embedded and Real-Time Systems Concepts
- Basic Concepts
- Protection Motivations
- Off the Shelf (OTS)
- Embedded Caveats
- Real Time Operating Systems
- Real Time Linux
- Custom Hardware Assistance
- Resources
Cross-Development Environments: Goals and Needs
- Introduction
- Why is it Hard?
- Project Goal Considerations
- Links to Additional Discussions
- Labs
Kbuild System
- Introduction
- Kbuild Makefiles
- Kconfig Basics
- Searching Kconfig
Cross-Development Toolchain
- The Compiler Triplet
- Built-in Linux Distribution Cross Compiler
- Linaro
- CodeSourcery
- crosstool-ng
- Buildroot
- OpenEmbedded
- Yocto Project
- Clang
- Labs
QEMU
- What is QEMU?
- Why use QEMU?
- Emulated Architectures
- Image Formats
- Labs
Booting a Target Development Board from uSD
- Why do we use uSD cards?
- Getting SW onto a uSD card
- Booting from flash
- Why is using uSD cards a bad idea?
- Labs
Booting a Target Development Board over Ethernet
- Using virtual Hardware
- An easier way to develop
- The Boot Sequence using TFTP and NFSroot
- Objectives of the Lab
- Labs
Boot loaders and U-Boot
- Boot Code Stages
- Some GPL BIOSes
- Some GPL Boot Loaders
- Das U-Boot
- U-Boot Command Line
- U-Boot Environment
- Labs
Kernel Configuration, Compilation, Booting
- Configuring the Kernel for the Development Board
- Labs
Device Drivers**
- Types of Devices
- Device Nodes
- Character Drivers
- An Example
- Labs
Device Trees
- What are Device Trees?
- What Device Trees Do and What They Do Not Do
- Device Tree Syntax
- Device Tree Walk Through
- Device Tree Bindings
- Device Tree support in Boot Loaders
- Using Device Tree Data in Drivers
- Coexistence and Conversion of Old Drivers
- Labs
Target Filesystem Packaging
- Embedded Filesystem Goals
- Directories: a Survey
- Embedded Filesystem Types
Build Target Root Filesystem
- Objectives of the Lab
- Labs
Root Filesystem Choices
- SysV init vs. BusyBox init
- udev vs. BusyBox mdev
- Systemd
- C Library Choices
- Labs
Configuring uClibc
- Configuring uClibc for NFS
- Labs
Another Alternate C-library: musl **
- What is musl?
- Configuring BuildRoot for musl
- Labs
Build BusyBox Utility Suite
- Basic Workings
- Integrated with Buildroot
- Labs
Kernel Monitoring and Debugging
- Tracing and Profiling
- Ftrace, Trace-Cmd, Kernelshark
- Perf
- Using perf
- sysctl
- SysRq Key
- oops Messages
- Kernel Debuggers
- debugfs
Right-Sizing
- Oft-Needed Embedded Components
- Taking Inventory of Kernel Sizes
Memory Technology Devices (Flash Memory Filesystems)
- What are MTD Devices?
- NAND vs. NOR vs. eMMC
- Driver and User Modules
- Flash Filesystems
Compressed Filesystems
- SquashFS
- Deploying in an MTD Partition
- Labs
System Upgrades
- When do we need to update?
- Update strategies
- Prebuilt upgrade systems
- Labs
Real-Time Extensions
- Predictability and Preemption and Locks
- PREEMPT RT Project
- Real-Time Checklist
Closing and Evaluation Survey
- Evaluation Survey
Kernel Architecture Preview
- Linux and UNIX
- Monolithic and Micro Kernels
- Main Kernel Tasks
- User-Space and Kernel-Space
Kernel Source Tree Overview
- Installation and Layout of the Kernel Source
- Kernel Browsers
- Kernel Configuration Files
- Why is it Hard? Part 2
Kernel Programming Preview
- Coding Style
- kernel-doc
- Using Generic Kernel Routines and Methods
- Error Numbers, Printing Kernel Output, syslogd
- Task Structure
- Memory Allocation
- Transferring Data between User and Kernel Space
Modules
- What are Modules?
- A Trivial Example
- Compiling Modules
- Modules vs Built-in
- Module Utilities
- Automatic Module Loading
- Module Usage Count
- Module Licensing
- Exporting Symbols
- Resolving Symbols **
- Labs
Basic Target Development Board Setup
- Objectives of the Lab
- Labs
Booting the Target Development Board from uSD
- Objectives of the Lab
- Labs
Booting a Target Development Board over Ethernet
- An easier way to develop
- The Boot Sequence using TFTP and NFSroot
- Objectives of the Lab
- Labs
** These sections may be considered in part or in whole as optional. They contain either background reference material, specialized topics, or advanced subjects. The instructor may choose to cover or not cover them depending on classroom experience and time constraints.
Prerequisites
The course is primarily intended for experienced developers, programmers, and engineers who are interested in learning how to adapt Linux to an embedded system. You should be familiar with basic Linux utilities, know the C programming language, and be comfortable developing for Linux or UNIX. Pre-class preparation material will be provided before class.
Reviews
Oct 2024
The course provided a good background to many Linux topics.
Oct 2024
I liked learning about the various components of embedded Linux.
Oct 2024
I think the topics the book covered were interesting, and within what I expected to be covered and more. I also think the labs ran relatively smoothly, and I did like the textbook that assisted me when following along in the class.
Oct 2024
I liked the sheer breadth of this field of study, and now I feel like I have a far greater understanding of how one can set up/compile a filesystem for embedded hardware.
Oct 2024
I appreciated learning about all the different toolchains, tools, software, and packages used for embedded development, and going into how Linux development is done.
Oct 2024
The lab exercises were fantastic in terms of building muscle memory, and didn't abstract away too much.
Oct 2024
I thought the class progressed in a very logical manner from start to finish, building on previous knowledge.
Jul 2024
Hands-on sessions, insight from the trainer's experience, and a nice atmosphere.
Jul 2024
It gave a nice complete picture from scratch to the final system.
Jul 2024
The large overview of so many solutions.
Jul 2024
I liked learning about the device tree, and about real-time extension.
Jul 2024
The real-world steps building something from nothing, to having a fully working environment. These steps helped me understand how everything works.
$3250
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Includes
Live (Classroom)
4 days of Instructor-led class time
Hands-on Labs & Assignments
Resources & Course Manual
Certificate of Completion
Digital Badge
Course Rating
4.2/5 Stars
Experience Level: Intermediate
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