# Qualcomm Linux Yocto overview

This guide provides information about how Qualcomm Linux uses Yocto to build an embedded system software image for Qualcomm
reference hardware.

The Qualcomm Linux release and this documentation are built on the principles of the
Yocto Project to help you further customize Qualcomm Linux. Qualcomm Linux 2.0 is based on the Yocto master branch.

For an introduction to Yocto, see the
following pages created by the Yocto Project^®^:

- [The Yocto Project](https://www.yoctoproject.org/)
- [The Yocto Project documentation](https://docs.yoctoproject.org/dev/)

The Yocto Project provides tools, software, configurations, and best
practices to create customized Linux images for
embedded and IoT devices, or anywhere a customized Linux OS is needed.

Qualcomm Linux offers two reference images: `qcom-multimedia-image` and `qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image`.

> 
> 
> - The `qcom-multimedia-image` includes upstream software components, and the kernel from [https://github.com/qualcomm-linux/kernel](https://github.com/qualcomm-linux/kernel) `qcom-6.18.y`.
> - The `qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image` includes Qualcomm value-added software, and the kernel from [https://github.com/qualcomm-linux/kernel](https://github.com/qualcomm-linux/kernel) `qcom-6.18.y`.

The Qualcomm Linux environment consists of several community-maintained metadata layers that deliver recipes for software packages, package groups, image recipes, and configurations. The Qualcomm Linux metadata layers are stacked on community layers to provide additional software components required for Qualcomm development kits.

## Next steps

> 
> 
> - The machine configurations defined in [meta-qcom](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-27/topic/meta_qcom.html#meta-qcom), and these configurations are mapped to the [development kits](https://www.qualcomm.com/developer/software/qualcomm-linux/hardware).
> - To find the mapping of machine configurations to a development kit, see Section 4.2 of the [Qualcomm Linux Release Notes](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-300/).
> - See [Hardware SoCs](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-115/soc.html) that are supported on Qualcomm Linux.

Last Published: May 10, 2026

[Previous Topic
Qualcomm Linux Yocto documentation](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/80-80022-27/topics/yocto_landing_page.md) [Next Topic
Qualcomm Linux metadata layers](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/80-80022-27/topics/qualcomm_linux_metadata_layers.md)