Embedded Linux distributions

operating system created by Google for use on mobile devices

Linux-based mobile operating system by Mozilla

CyanogenMod ( ; CM) is a discontinued open-source operating system for mobile devices, based on the Android mobile platform. Developed between 2009 and 2016, it was free and open-source software based on the official releases of Android by Google, with added original and third-party code, and based on a rolling release development model. Although only a subset of total CyanogenMod users elected to report their use of the firmware, on 23 March 2015, some reports indicated that over 50 million people ran CyanogenMod on their phones. It was also frequently used as a starting point by developers o

LineageOS is an open source Android (AOSP)-based operating system for smartphones, tablets, and set-top boxes. It is community-developed and serves as the successor to CyanogenMod, from which it was forked in December 2016. As of 2025, there are about 4.5 million devices running LineageOS.

Maemo is a Linux-based software platform originally developed by Nokia, now developed by the community, for smartphones and Internet tablets. The platform comprises both the Maemo operating system and SDK. Maemo played a key role in Nokia's strategy as an attempt to compete with Apple and Android; the only retail devices that shipped with Maemo were the Nokia Internet tablet line released in 2005 and the Nokia N900 smartphone in 2009.

Tizen () is a Linux-based operating system primarily developed by Samsung Electronics and supported by the Linux Foundation.

mobile interface for Ubuntu, developed by UBports

OpenWrt (from open wireless router) is an open-source project for embedded operating systems based on Linux, primarily used on embedded devices to route network traffic. The main components are Linux, util-linux, musl, and BusyBox. All components have been optimized to be small enough to fit into the limited storage and memory available in home routers.

thumb|Nokia 8110 4G "banana phone" KaiOS is a mobile Linux distribution for keypad-based mobile phones. It is designed and optimised for affordable and low-power feature phones, while retaining access to Internet services through web apps, based on the Gecko engine. KaiOS was originally forked from the former Firefox OS open-source project, and is developed by KaiOS Technologies (Hong Kong) Limited; a company based in Hong Kong, whose largest shareholder is Chinese electronics conglomerate TCL Corporation.''''

mobile phone Linux distribution

GrapheneOS is a free and open-source, privacy- and security-focused, Android-based operating system for Google Pixel and future Motorola devices. GrapheneOS is built on the Android Open Source Project. It focuses on researching and improving the privacy and security of Android. GrapheneOS is developed by the GrapheneOS Foundation, a Canadian nonprofit corporation.

postmarketOS (abbreviated as pmOS) is an operating system primarily for smartphones, based on the Alpine Linux distribution. Developed since 2016, it was launched in 2017, and continues to be a work in progress.

free and open source OS distribution based on LineageOS

iPodLinux is a μClinux-based Linux distribution designed specifically to run on Apple Inc.'s iPod. When the iPodLinux kernel is booted it takes the place of Apple's iPod operating system and automatically loads Podzilla, an alternative GUI and launcher for a number of additional included programs such as a video player, an image viewer, a command line shell, games, emulators for video game consoles, programming demos, and other experimental or occasionally unfinished software.

home automation software

Mobilinux is a discontinued Linux distribution by MontaVista. It was announced on April 25, 2005.

GeeXboX (stylized as GEExBox) is a free Linux distribution providing a media center software suite for personal computers. GeeXboX 2.0 and later uses XBMC for media playback and is implemented as Live USB and Live CD options. As such, the system does not need to be permanently installed to a hard drive, as most modern operating systems would. Instead, the computer can be booted with the GeeXboX CD when media playback is desired. It is based on the Debian distribution of Linux.

open-source system software that provides essential OS features, but not a kernel or GUI

Linux distribution

OpenZaurus is a defunct embedded operating system for the Sharp Zaurus personal mobile tool PDA.

Jornada Linux Mobility Edition or JLime is a Linux distribution originally aimed for the HP Jornada platform. It was created in late 2003 by Kristoffer Ericson and Henk Brunstin. It is developed using the OpenEmbedded build system.

REDIRECT OpenWrt#LEDE

Armbian is a software framework for building system images for single-board computers (SBCs). It is not a Linux distribution in its own right but builds upon Debian or Ubuntu, providing a minimal base system optimized for SBC hardware and maintaining its own kernels. The framework allows users and manufacturers to deploy ready-made images or create customized ones for specific hardware.

LibreELEC (short for Libre Embedded Linux Entertainment Center) is an up-to-date non-profit and fully open-source fork of the (now discontinued) OpenELEC as an up-to-date Just enough operating system. It acts as a Linux-based all-in-one Home theater PC (HTPC) distribution for the Kodi media center application software appliance and entertainment system.

OpenELEC (short for Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center) is a discontinued Linux distribution designed for home theater PCs and based on the Kodi (formerly XBMC) media center application.

Zeroshell is a small open-source Linux distribution for servers and embedded systems which aims to provide network services. Its administration relies on a web-based graphical interface; no shell is needed to administer and configure it. Zeroshell is available as Live CD and CompactFlash images, and VMware virtual machines.

BharOS (formerly IndOS) is a closed-source, Android-based operating system developed by IIT Madras. It is funded by the Indian government, which intends to use it on government and public systems.

MontaVista Software is a company that develops embedded Linux system software, development tools, and related software. Its products are made for other corporations developing embedded systems such as automotive electronics, communications equipment, mobile phones, and other electronic devices and infrastructure.

Open source Linux distribution kit

Mobian is a project to port the Debian Linux distribution running the mainline Linux kernel to smartphones and tablets. The project was announced in 2020. It is available for the PinePhone, PinePhone Pro, PineTab, PineTab 2, Librem 5, OnePlus 6/6T, and Pocophone F1.

LibreCMC is a GNU/Linux-libre distribution for computers with minimal resources, such as the Ben NanoNote, ath9k-based Wi-Fi routers, and other hardware with emphasis on free software. Based on OpenWrt, the project's goal is to aim for compliance with the GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG) and ensure that the project continues to meet these requirements set forth by the Free Software Foundation (FSF). LibreCMC does not support ac (Wi-Fi 5) or ax (Wi-Fi 6) due to a lack of free chipsets.

PixelExperience is a discontinued, open-source, Android-based operating system. The project was initiated by a community of developers in 2017. Pixel Experience was designed to be as close to "stock Android" as possible, with a focus on reliability, security, stability, performance, battery life, and useful customizations.

MotoMagx (stylized MOTOMAGX) is a former Linux kernel-based mobile operating system developed and launched in 2007 by Motorola to run on their mid-to-high-end mobile phones. The system was based on MontaVista's Mobilinux. Originally intended for 60% of their upcoming devices, it was soon dropped in favor of Android and Windows Mobile operating systems.