PROJECT GOALS
Linux made by embedded developers for embedded developers
Avocado Linux strives to create a distribution and ecosystem of tools specifically for embedded developers. Avocado systems should be quick to build, delightful to develop on, and ready for production, always.
Composable
Construct and run an entire system with pre-built core and extensions from the avocado layer repository. Include your own applications as portable services, system extensions, or container images.
Extensible
Open Source and built with Yocto. Avocado extends natural support for creating and customizing core and extension layers for supporting any custom hardware.
Secure
Simplified support for secure-boot, LUKS encryption, DM-Verity, and custom kernel keys. Only boot the layers you securely choose.
WHY DID WE DO THIS?
Developer Agility Meets Production Ready
The embedded Linux landscape has traditionally forced developers to choose between ease of development and production readiness. We created Avocado OS to eliminate this compromise, building a distribution that supports rapid iteration during development while maintaining the reliability and security needed for production deployment.
Developer Friendly
Avocado OS prioritizes developer experience at every turn, with tooling and workflows designed to accelerate embedded development. Our approach reduces friction in the development process, allowing teams to iterate quickly while maintaining visibility into the entire system. By providing intuitive interfaces for complex embedded tasks, we help developers spend more time creating and less time wrestling with their development environment.
Hardware-in-the-loop development and testing
System extensions, portable services, and image layers
Production ready
Moving from development to production shouldn't require a complete system redesign. Avocado OS is built with production deployment in mind from day one, integrating enterprise-level security features without compromising development agility. The same system that powers your rapid development can be hardened and deployed to the field, eliminating the painful transition between development and production environments.
Simplified secure boot and device encryption
Boot modes for development, manufacturing, and recovery
Composable
Modern embedded systems require flexibility in both development and deployment. Avocado's composable architecture allows you to assemble precisely the system you need by combining pre-built components with your custom applications. Providing the perfect balance between standardization and customization, enables you to leverage community-maintained components while preserving your applications.
Layer repository for Avocado maintained platforms and system extensions
Immutable and deterministic runtime with build time package management
Extensible
No two embedded projects have identical requirements. Avocado OS embraces this reality with an extensible architecture that adapts to your specific hardware and application needs. Built on Yocto's proven foundation, Avocado makes customization approachable without sacrificing maintainability. This flexibility ensures that your embedded system can evolve alongside your product requirements.
First class integration with Yocto for custom hardware layers
Modular SDKs and container images for cross-compiling and CI/CD integration
Secure
Embedded systems should incorporate Secure Boot and full Disk Encryption by default, but implementing these protections is often platform-specific and complex. Avocado provides a unified approach to enabling Secure Boot across different architectures, simplifying the process while maintaining strong security guarantees. Our composable system supports immutable, read-only deployments with end-to-end dm-verity and LUKS encryption, ensuring verifiable updates while allowing for dynamic composition at rest. This approach gives users full control over their data, combining security with flexibility.
Cross platform tools for code signing and Secure Boot
Composable architecture with dm-verity + LUKS encryption
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Who’s involved?
Avocado Linux strives to create a distribution and ecosystem of tools specifically for embedded developers. Avocado systems should be quick to build, delightful to develop on, and ready for production, always.