FlexBuild is an easy-to-use, lightweight build tool for compiling and deploying Debian-based Linux systems on NXP platforms.
It provides a streamlined workflow to build complete Debian systems, including the Linux kernel, BSP components, and various userspace applications (graphics, multimedia, networking, security, AI/ML, etc.). FlexBuild simplifies the entire build process with efficient CI/CD integration.
With the included flex-installer utility, you can easily deploy the built Debian system to target storage devices (SD/eMMC card or USB/SATA disk) on NXP boards or host machines.
- Ubuntu LTS host (22.04, 24.04) with docker installed.
-
iMX platform:
imx8mmevk, imx8mpevk, imx8mpfrdm, imx8qmmek, imx91evk, imx91frdm, imx91sfrdm, imx93evk, imx93frdm, imx95-15x15-frdm, imx95-15x15-evk, imx95-19x19-frdm-pro, imx95-19x19-evk -
Layerscape platform:
ls1028ardb, ls1043ardb, ls1046ardb, lx2160ardb
Build all images in 3 steps:
$ cd flexbuild
$ make docker # Step 1: Create or attach to Docker build container
$ make menuconfig (or make <machine>_defconfig) # Step 2: Select target machine and applications (if needed)
$ make all # Step 3: Build all required images (bootloader + kernel + rootfs)
Most used examples with separate command:
$ make bsp # Generate BSP composite firmware (primarily for Layerscape platforms)
$ make flash.bin # Generate flash.bin composite firmware (for iMX platforms)
$ make atf # Compile ARM Trusted Firmware (ATF) image for SD boot
$ make boot # Generate boot partition tarball (kernel, DTB, distro boot script)
$ make linux # Compile Linux kernel
$ make uboot # Compile U-Boot bootloader
$ make apps # Compile NXP-specific components with runtime dependencies
$ make merge-apps # Merge compiled NXP components into rootfs
$ make rfs # Generate Debian-based root filesystem
$ make packrfs # Pack and compress rootfs as rootfs_<distro_version>_debian_<machine>_arm64.tar.zst
$ make clean-bsp # Clean BSP components (U-Boot/ATF/firmware)
$ make clean-linux # Clean Linux kernel build artifacts
$ make clean-apps # Clean NXP application components
$ make clean-rfs # Clean Debian root filesystem
$ make docker # Create or attach to Docker build container
$ make list # List all supported machines
$ make help # Display detailed help information
Please refer to NXP Debian Linux SDK Distribution for more information.
The detailed user guide is available at Debian Linux SDK User's Guide.