Embedded Linux & Architectures Mastery Path¶

Mastery Path

BOOTCAMP

VINOD BHANUJA

A structured, module-wise training program that takes you from "what even is embedded Linux?" to building, booting, and shipping production-grade Linux systems — covering the full software stack (bootloader → kernel → root filesystem → applications), CPU-architecture literacy (ARM Cortex-A/M/R, x86/x86-64, RISC-V), and the build systems the industry actually uses (Buildroot and Yocto). NXP's i.MX95 applications processor — six Cortex-A55 cores, a Cortex-M7 real-time core, and an eIQ Neutron NPU on one chip — is the running real-world example woven through the lessons, so you always see how each concept maps onto a real product platform.

No hardware required. Every hands-on lab runs in QEMU — the free, open-source machine emulator — on an ordinary Linux or macOS machine. You will boot real ARM Linux images, explore a BusyBox userland, cross-compile C programs, and build your own root filesystem, all on your laptop.

How the program is organized¶

Level	Focus	Modules
Level 1 · Entry	Embedded Linux fundamentals: architectures, boot flow, QEMU labs, BusyBox, cross-compiling, device trees, init, Buildroot	9 topics + 1 capstone
Level 2 · Intermediate	Yocto, U-Boot, kernel config & modules, udev, networking, storage, debugging, systemd	9 topics + 1 project
Level 3 · Advanced	Kernel drivers, device model, DT overlays, remoteproc/RPMsg, PREEMPT_RT, graphics, profiling	9 topics + 1 project
Level 4 · Master	Production BSPs, secure boot (HAB/AHAB), OTA, OP-TEE, NPU/eIQ, fleet management, compliance	9 topics + 1 capstone

Recommended background¶

Shell Mastery Path — you will live on the command line here; do that course first if the shell is new to you.
C Mastery Path — the cross-compilation and capstone modules write small C programs.
Embedded Systems Mastery Path — the microcontroller (Cortex-M/Arduino/ESP32) side of embedded; a great companion but not a prerequisite.

How to use this site¶

Work through each level in order — later modules assume earlier ones.
Every topic page has real commands with expected output — run them in your own terminal and QEMU guest as you read.
Each level ends with a project that combines everything learned in that level.
Use the search bar (top of the page) to jump straight to a topic.

Start here → Level 1 · Entry

🎥 Prefer video? Watch the Mastery Path video series on YouTube — Shorts and full walkthroughs of these lessons.