Linux is arguably the best operating system to take advantage of this new generation of computer hardware. Thanks to strong community support, contributions regularly enrich the platform with the latest and greatest software and build tools for any CPU architecture.

On the one hand, community-maintained build systems like Yocto have abstracted and automated Linux embedding, to the point that any developer can create a distribution. On the other hand, enterprises running embedded Linux in production and at scale oftentimes have requirements that community contributions do not address. A gap which embedded Linux vendors fill by offering expertise and enterprise support.

Device manufacturers therefore face a dilemma today: whether to roll their own Linux distribution as an internal platform for embedded projects, or whether to use a commercially supported embedded Linux distribution.

This guide will help you make this decision.