Embedded Linux ·
Embedded Linux board bring-up starts long before the first boot log appears
A successful Embedded Linux bring-up starts long before the first boot log appears.
The fastest teams reduce uncertainty layer by layer.
Validate power, clocks, reset sequencing and memory first
Nothing above this layer can be trusted until these are known to be right.
Establish a dependable bootloader and console path
A console you can rely on turns every later step from guesswork into observation.
Bring up the minimum kernel, device tree and root filesystem
Start with the smallest configuration that boots, and grow it from there.
Add peripherals one interface at a time
When something fails, there is only one new thing it could be.
Preserve every working milestone as a reproducible build
A working state you cannot rebuild is a working state you will eventually lose.
Why this works
This approach makes failures easier to isolate. It prevents hardware, bootloader, kernel and userspace problems from being debugged all at once.
What is the most difficult issue your team has faced during a new board bring-up?