# Qualcomm Linux metadata layers
This section introduces the layers included
in the [Qualcomm manifest](https://github.com/qualcomm-linux/qcom-manifest).
This manifest includes all the layers required to reproduce the
reference build. The subsequent sections introduce the layers maintained by the Yocto Project.
Qualcomm maintains the layers specific to Qualcomm Linux development kits, which depend on the community
layers to achieve full functionality.
The following figure shows the layers included in the Qualcomm Linux release:
**Figure: Qualcomm Linux metadata layers**
The following table provides the metadata layers and their descriptions:
Table : Qualcomm Linux metadata layers and descriptions
| Metadata layer | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `meta-qcom-hwe` | Contains recipes that build software components for Qualcomm development kits and provides software features applicable to Qualcomm systems-on-chip (SoCs). |
| `meta-qcom-distro` | Provides a reference distribution configuration for Qualcomm development kits. Image recipes and package groups are defined in this layer. |
| `meta-qcom-extras` | Optional metadata layer for registered users. This layer enables source compilation of select components, which are
otherwise provided as binaries in `meta-qcom-hwe`. |
| `meta-qcom-qim-product-sdk` | Provides Qualcomm^®^ Intelligent Multimedia SDK (IM SDK) and AI SDKs based on the GStreamer framework. This includes
a set of GStreamer plug-ins, sample applications for multimedia, and AI use cases. |
| `meta-qcom-realtime` | Provides patches and configurations for the Qualcomm Linux kernel to enable real-time operations. |
| `meta-qcom` | Contains Qualcomm device support and upstream open-source software (OSS) components. |
| `meta-virtualization` | Contains packages for constructing OpenEmbedded virtualized solutions and virtualization stacks, such as Docker and Kubernetes. For more information, see [meta-virtualization](https://git.yoctoproject.org/meta-virtualization). |
| `meta-selinux` | Enables SELinux support. This layer includes reference SELinux policies and
provides necessary tooling. To enable SELinux for Qualcomm Linux, set the
variable `DEFAULT_ENFORCING` to `enforcing` in `meta-qcom-distro/conf/distro/include/qcom-base.inc`.
For more information, see [meta-selinux](https://git.yoctoproject.org/meta-selinux). |
| `poky/meta` | Provides build tools and recipe files for various software components needed for an embedded OS distribution.
For more information, see [poky/meta](https://git.yoctoproject.org/poky). |
| `meta-openembedded` | Collection of layers for the OpenEmbedded build system. For more information, see [meta-openembedded](https://git.openembedded.org/meta-openembedded). |
| `meta-security` | Provides security tools and hardening tools for Qualcomm Linux kernels and libraries for implementing security mechanisms.
For more information, see [meta-security](https://git.yoctoproject.org/meta-security/tree/README.md?h=scarthgap). |
| `meta-updater` | Enables over-the-air updates (OTA) with OSTree. OSTree is a tool for atomic full file system upgrades with rollback capability.
For more information, see [meta-updater](https://github.com/uptane/meta-updater/blob/scarthgap/README.adoc). |
The following layers represent the Qualcomm board support package (BSP) metadata:
- [meta-qcom](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom.html#meta-qcom)
- [meta-qcom-hwe](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom_hwe.html#meta-qcom-hwe)
- [meta-qcom-realtime](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom_realtime.html#meta-qcom-realtime)
The following layer defines the `qcom-wayland` reference distribution:
- [meta-qcom-distro](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom_distro.html#meta-qcom-distro)
The following layer defines the optional Qualcomm IM SDK:
- [meta-qcom-qim-product-sdk](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom_qim_product_sdk.html#meta-qcom-qim-product-sdk)
The following metadata layer defines the optional BSP:
- [meta-qcom-extras](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom_extras.html#meta-qcom-extras)
## Next steps
- For information about robotics layers, see [Qualcomm Intelligent Robotics (QIR) SDK layers](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70022-265/architecture.html#component-layers-of-the-qirp-sdk).
- [`meta-qcom`](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom.html)
- [`meta-qcom-hwe`](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom_hwe.html)
- [`meta-qcom-distro`](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom_distro.html)
- [`meta-qcom-realtime`](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom_realtime.html)
- [`meta-qcom-extras`](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom_extras.html)
- [`meta-qcom-qim-product-sdk`](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/meta_qcom_qim_product_sdk.html)
- [Use BitBake OVERRIDES in Qualcomm Linux metadata layers](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/use-of-bitbake-overrides.html)
- [Build Qualcomm Linux](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70022-27/topic/build_qualcomm_linux.html)
Last Published: Oct 17, 2025
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