Yocto Project
The Yocto Project is an open source embedded Linux build system under The Linux Foundation, providing BitBake, Poky, and the OpenEmbedded layer architecture to enable developers and semiconductor vendors to create custom Linux images for diverse hardware platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Yocto Project does
The Yocto Project is an open source collaboration project hosted under The Linux Foundation that provides a flexible build system and toolkit for creating custom embedded Linux distributions. Founded in 2011 and operated out of San Francisco via the foundation, it serves embedded Linux developers, semiconductor and SoC vendors building Board Support Packages (BSPs), and industry initiatives including Automotive Grade Linux, RDK, and commercial networking and IoT programs. Its user base spans consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, medical, and security-device manufacturers who need a hardware-agnostic, reproducible way to assemble tailored Linux images.
Its core technology centers on BitBake, a dependency-aware build execution engine, combined with the Poky reference distribution and the modular OpenEmbedded layer architecture that allows users to compose BSPs, distro configurations, and software stacks for any major CPU architecture. The version 6.0 'Wrynose' LTS release (May 2026) supports Linux kernel 6.18 LTS, GCC 15.2, glibc 2.43, LLVM 22.1, Go 1.26, and Rust 1.94, defaults to systemd, and delivers built-in SBOM generation in SPDX 3.0 format plus integrated CVE tracking via the new sbom-cve-check tool. Project Unity, launched April 2026, consolidates the autobuilder into a single monolithic build to address infrastructure fragmentation that community analysis pegged at approximately 34% of developer time spent on build failures.
Yocto Project operates on a pure open source distribution model with no direct software-licensing revenue. Funding flows indirectly to The Linux Foundation through Platinum, Gold, and Silver corporate membership dues, with a roster of 15 Platinum members (including AMD, AWS, Arm, BMW, Cisco, Intel, LG, Qualcomm, RISC-V International, and Wind River) and major Gold and Silver participants such as Microsoft, Texas Instruments, Renesas, NXP, STMicroelectronics, and Automotive Grade Linux. The go-to-market is community-led: documentation, mailing lists, weekly technical calls, an Ambassadors program, and exhibitions such as Embedded World. Releases are governed by a Technical Steering Committee, with 240+ community contributors delivering 4,000+ commits per release cycle.
Yocto Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Yocto Project
- Legal name
- The Linux Foundation
- Website
- https://yoctoproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Yocto Project is an open source embedded Linux build system under The Linux Foundation, providing BitBake, Poky, and the OpenEmbedded layer architecture to enable developers and semiconductor vendors to create custom Linux images for diverse hardware platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Yocto Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Embedded Linux Build Tools
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Developer Tooling & SDK Platforms (BPAMAOAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- DevSecOps & Supply Chain Security (DevOps toolchain security) (BPAEAKAI)
Keywords
Where Yocto Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Yocto Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Open Source Distribution: The Yocto Project is free, open source software distributed under open source licenses. There is no direct revenue generation from software licensing.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels12 records
Yocto Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Yocto Project is an open-source build system for creating custom embedded Linux distributions. It provides the BitBake build engine, the OpenEmbedded modular layer architecture, and the Poky reference distribution, along with supporting tools, enabling developers to build tailored Linux images for specific hardware architectures and embedded/IoT use cases. The project supplies templates, tools, and methods that allow organizations to produce hardware-agnostic, reproducible embedded Linux systems.
Product overview
Yocto Project is a single unified open-source embedded Linux build system and toolkit. It is not a pre-built distribution but rather a framework that helps developers create custom Linux-based systems. The core components include the Yocto Project itself (the overarching framework), BitBake (the build execution engine), and Poky (the reference distribution). Supporting tools like bitbake-setup (for environment setup) and sbom-cve-check (for SBOM/CVE checking) extend the core functionality. Together these tools enable developers to build tailored Linux images for embedded devices, IoT hardware, and other specialized computing platforms regardless of hardware architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Yocto Project An open-source collaboration project providing a flexible set of tools, metadata, and frameworks for creating custom Linux-based systems tailored to specific hardware and use case requirements. It is targeted at embedded developers, semiconductor companies, and device manufacturers building specialized computing platforms.
- BitBake
Quantifiable outcome
- Long Term Support release supported until April 2030 (Wrynose 6.0)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Yocto Project
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Yocto Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Yocto Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- RISC-V InternationalcoreRISC-V International joined as a Platinum member in June 2025, expanding the Yocto Project's global ecosystem. RISC-V is an open-source instruction set architecture that aligns well with Yocto Project's mission of providing hardware-agnostic embedded Linux solutions.
- AMDcorePlatinum member contributing to Yocto Project development and using it for embedded Linux solutions.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)corePlatinum member supporting the project and utilizing Yocto Project for embedded Linux on AWS infrastructure.
- Arm LimitedcorePlatinum member - major architecture contributor and user of Yocto Project for ARM-based embedded systems.
- Intel CorporationcorePlatinum member contributing to Yocto Project and using it for Intel-based embedded solutions.
- Qualcomm TechnologiescorePlatinum member using Yocto Project for Qualcomm Snapdragon and other embedded processors.
- Wind River SystemscorePlatinum member contributing to Yocto Project and offering commercial support/derivatives.
- Linux FoundationcoreHosting organization providing governance, infrastructure, and administrative support for the Yocto Project under the Open Source Initiative.
- OpenEmbeddedcoreClose collaborative relationship with OpenEmbedded project, sharing core components including BitBake and the layer architecture.
- Automotive Grade LinuxmajorSilver member - AGL is a collaborative open source project that uses Yocto Project as its base for automotive Linux distributions.
- MicrosoftmajorGold member - contributes to Yocto Project and uses it for Windows IoT and embedded Linux scenarios.
- NXP SemiconductorsmajorSilver member providing BSP support and using Yocto Project for NXP processor-based embedded systems.
- STMicroelectronicsmajorSilver member contributing Yocto Project support for ST microcontrollers and microprocessors.
- Texas InstrumentsmajorGold member providing Yocto Project BSP support for TI processor platforms.
- Renesas ElectronicsmajorGold member using Yocto Project for Renesas embedded processor solutions.
- Bosch (Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories)minorSilver member - industrial/embedded systems company using Yocto Project.
- MontaVista SoftwareminorSilver member - commercial embedded Linux provider contributing to and using Yocto Project.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Yocto Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Yocto Project social profiles
Digital presenceYocto Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Yocto Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Yocto Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Yocto Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Yocto Project
What does Yocto Project do?
The Yocto Project is an open-source build system for creating custom embedded Linux distributions. It provides the BitBake build engine, the OpenEmbedded modular layer architecture, and the Poky reference distribution, along with supporting tools, enabling developers to build tailored Linux images for specific hardware architectures and embedded/IoT use cases. The project supplies templates, tools, and methods that allow organizations to produce hardware-agnostic, reproducible embedded Linux systems.
Is Yocto Project a public or private company?
Yocto Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Yocto Project founded?
Yocto Project was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Yocto Project based?
Yocto Project is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Yocto Project make money?
One revenue line is on record: open Source Distribution.
Does Yocto Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Yocto Project.
What industry is Yocto Project in?
Yocto Project's product category is Embedded Linux Build Tools. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAOAD, Developer Tooling & SDK Platforms, with a secondary code of BPAEAKAI, DevSecOps & Supply Chain Security (DevOps toolchain security). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.