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Last Updated: 2026-11-05 07:40:56

Compile Linux firmware

Download Firefly_Linux_SDK

First prepare an empty folder to place SDK, better under home, here we use ~/proj as example.

Compilation Notes

Attention:

1. SDK uses cross-compile, so download SDK to your X86_64 PC, do not download SDK to arm64 board.

2. Build environment needs to be Ubuntu18.04 (real PC or docker container), other versions may cause build failure.

3. Do not put SDK under shared directory of VM or non-English path.

4. Please get/build SDK as a normal user, root privilege are neither allowed nor required (except installing sth. with apt)

Install Tools

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y repo git python

Init Code Repository

  • Method One

Download via repo, you can choose to get full SDK or BSP:

mkdir ~/proj/rk3588_sdk/
cd ~/proj/rk3588_sdk/

## Full SDK
repo init --no-clone-bundle --repo-url https://github.com/Firefly-rk-linux-utils/git-repo.git --no-repo-verify -u https://github.com/Firefly-rk-linux/manifests.git -b master -m rk3588_linux_release.xml

## BSP (Only include some basic repositories and compile tools(Only for ubuntu & debian))
## BSP includes device/rockchip, docs, kernel, u-boot, rkbin, tools and cross-compile toolchian
repo init --no-clone-bundle --repo-url https://github.com/Firefly-rk-linux-utils/git-repo.git --no-repo-verify -u https://github.com/Firefly-rk-linux/manifests.git -b master -m rk3588_linux_bsp_release.xml
  • Method Two

Download Firefly_Linux_SDK sub-volume compressed package: Linux SDK, follow the README document:

└── rk3588_linux_release_xxx
    ├── linux_sdk_tar
    │   ├── rk3588_linux_release_xxx.sdk.split00
    │   ├── rk3588_linux_release_xxx.sdk.split01
    │   ├── rk3588_linux_release_xxx.sdk.split02
    │   ├── rk3588_linux_release_xxx.sdk.split03
    ├── md5sum.txt
    ├── README_EN.txt
    ├── README_ZH.txt
    └── sdk_tools.sh

Sync Code

Execute the following command to synchronize the code:

# Enter the SDK root directory
cd ~/proj/rk3588_sdk

# Sync
.repo/repo/repo sync -c --no-tags
.repo/repo/repo start firefly --all

You can use the following command to update the SDK later:

.repo/repo/repo sync -c --no-tags

Linux SDK Configuration introduction

Compile firmware

Compile Ubuntu firmware

This chapter introduces the compilation process of Ubuntu firmware. It is recommended to develop under Ubuntu 18.04 system environment. If you use other system versions, you may need to adjust the compilation environment accordingly.

The compilation portion of this tutorial works with SDK versions above v1.0.6e
$ readlink -f .repo/manifest.xml
/home/daijh/p/rk3588/.repo/manifests/rk3588/rk3588_linux_release_20230301_v1.0.6e.xml

Preparatory work

Set up compilation environment

sudo apt-get install repo git ssh make gcc libssl-dev liblz4-tool \
expect g++ patchelf chrpath gawk texinfo chrpath diffstat binfmt-support \
qemu-user-static live-build bison flex fakeroot cmake gcc-multilib g++-multilib \
unzip \
device-tree-compiler ncurses-dev \

Compile SDK

Precompile Configuration

There are configuration files for different board in device/rockchip/rk3588/, select the configuration file:

./build.sh aio-3588jd4-ubuntu.mk

Build

Automatic compilation
7z x ubuntu-aarch64-rootfs.7z
mkdir ubuntu_rootfs
mv ubuntu-aarch64-rootfs.img ubuntu_rootfs/rootfs.img
  • start compiling
./build.sh

the firmware will be saved to the directory rockdev/pack/.

Partial compilation
  • u-boot
./build.sh uboot
  • kernel
./build.sh extboot
  • recovery
./build.sh recovery
7z x ubuntu-aarch64-rootfs.7z
mkdir ubuntu_rootfs
mv ubuntu-aarch64-rootfs.img ubuntu_rootfs/rootfs.img
  • Update each part of the .img link to the directory rockdev/:
./mkfirmware.sh
  • Pack the firmware, the firmware will be saved to the directory rockdev/pack/.
./build.sh updateimg

Compile Debian firmware

This chapter introduces the compilation process of Debian firmware. It is recommended to develop under Ubuntu 18.04 system environment. If you use other system versions, you may need to adjust the compilation environment accordingly.

The compilation portion of this tutorial works with SDK versions above v1.0.6e
$ readlink -f .repo/manifest.xml
/home/daijh/p/rk3588/.repo/manifests/rk3588/rk3588_linux_release_20230301_v1.0.6e.xml

Preparatory work

Set up compilation environment

sudo apt-get install repo git ssh make gcc libssl-dev liblz4-tool \
expect g++ patchelf chrpath gawk texinfo chrpath diffstat binfmt-support \
qemu-user-static live-build bison flex fakeroot cmake gcc-multilib g++-multilib \
unzip \
device-tree-compiler ncurses-dev \

Compile SDK

Precompile Configuration

There are configuration files for different board in device/rockchip/rk3588/, select the configuration file:

./build.sh aio-3588jd4-debian.mk

Build

Automatic compilation
7z x debian_rk3588_rootfs_xxx.7z
mkdir debian
mv debianxx-rootfs.img debian/debian-rootfs.img
  • start compiling
./build.sh

the firmware will be saved to the directory rockdev/pack/.

Partial compilation
  • u-boot
./build.sh uboot
  • kernel
./build.sh extboot
  • recovery
./build.sh recovery
7z x debian_rk3588_rootfs_xxx.7z
mkdir debian
mv debianxx-rootfs.img debian/rootfs.img
  • Update each part of the .img link to the directory rockdev/:
./mkfirmware.sh
  • Pack the firmware, the firmware will be saved to the directory rockdev/pack/.
./build.sh updateimg

Compile Buildroot firmware

This chapter introduces the compilation process of Buildroot firmware. It is recommended to develop under Ubuntu 18.04 system environment. If you use other system versions, you may need to adjust the compilation environment accordingly.

The compilation portion of this tutorial works with SDK versions above v1.0.6e
$ readlink -f .repo/manifest.xml
/home/daijh/p/rk3588/.repo/manifests/rk3588/rk3588_linux_release_20230301_v1.0.6e.xml

Preparatory work

Set up compilation environment

sudo apt-get install repo git ssh make gcc libssl-dev liblz4-tool \
expect g++ patchelf chrpath gawk texinfo chrpath diffstat binfmt-support \
qemu-user-static live-build bison flex fakeroot cmake gcc-multilib g++-multilib \
unzip \
device-tree-compiler ncurses-dev \

Compile SDK

Precompile Configuration

There are configuration files for different board in device/rockchip/rk3588/, select the configuration file:

./build.sh aio-3588jd4-buildroot.mk

Build

Automatic compilation
  • start compiling
./build.sh

the firmware will be saved to the directory rockdev/pack/.

Partial compilation
  • u-boot
./build.sh uboot
  • kernel
./build.sh extboot
  • recovery
./build.sh recovery
  • buildroot
./build.sh rootfs
  • Update each part of the .img link to the directory rockdev/:
./mkfirmware.sh
  • Pack the firmware, the firmware will be saved to the directory rockdev/pack/.
./build.sh updateimg

Download the SDK

Please contact sales@t-firefly.com to get SDK download link and read the readme file

Compilation Notes

Notice:

1. SDK use cross-compilation, so use SDK in x86_64 PC, do not download SDK to the device

2. We suggest to use Ubuntu20.04 (real PC or docker) to build, other OS may cause building failure

3. Do not place or decompress the SDK archive in Virtual Machine share folder or non-english folder

4. Please use the regular user to get/compile the SDK, use root privilege may cause building failure

SDK Introduction

Compile firmware

Build Ubuntu Firmware

Preparations

Run these two commands to install necessary tools

sudo apt update

sudo apt install repo git ssh make gcc libssl-dev liblz4-tool \
expect g++ patchelf chrpath gawk texinfo chrpath diffstat binfmt-support \
qemu-user-static live-build bison flex fakeroot cmake gcc-multilib g++-multilib \
unzip device-tree-compiler ncurses-dev p7zip-full

Download rootfs here Ubuntu rootfs(64-bit) Kernel6.1, please use rootfs under kernel-6.1 folder.

After download, decompress and move the rootfs image to SDK/prebuilt_rootfs/, then create a symbolic link.

# Decompress
7z x Ubuntu22.04-xxxx.7z

mkdir ./SDK/prebuilt_rootfs/
mv Ubuntu22.04-xxxx.img ./SDK/prebuilt_rootfs/
cd ./SDK/prebuilt_rootfs/
ln -sf Ubuntu22.04-xxxx.img rk3588_ubuntu_rootfs.img
cd ..

Configurations

Run ./build.sh lunch to list all available configs, enter a number to select. Please choose one with "ubuntu" keyword:

./build.sh lunch

############### Rockchip Linux SDK ###############

Manifest: rk3588_linux6.1_release_20250114_v1.1.1c

Log colors: message notice warning error fatal

Log saved at /home2/daijh/p/rk3588/sdk_6.1/output/sessions/2025-01-14_14-39-08
Pick a defconfig:

1. rockchip_defconfig
2. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588jd4_buildroot_defconfig
3. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588jd4_debian_defconfig
4. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588jd4_ubuntu_defconfig
5. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588l_debian_defconfig
6. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588l_ubuntu_defconfig
7. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588q_debian_defconfig
8. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588q_ubuntu_defconfig
9. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588sjd4_debian_defconfig
10. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588sjd4_ubuntu_defconfig
11. firefly_rk3588_itx-3588j_buildroot_defconfig
12. firefly_rk3588_itx-3588j_debian_defconfig
13. firefly_rk3588_itx-3588j_ubuntu_defconfig
14. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt-ext-10ge_debian_defconfig
15. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt-ext-10ge_ubuntu_defconfig
16. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt-ext-2g5e_debian_defconfig
17. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt-ext-2g5e_ubuntu_defconfig
18. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt_debian_defconfig
19. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt_ubuntu_defconfig
20. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588s-pc-ext_debian_defconfig
21. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588s-pc-ext_ubuntu_defconfig
22. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588s-pc_debian_defconfig
23. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588s-pc_ubuntu_defconfig
24. rockchip_rk3588_evb1_lp4_v10_defconfig
25. rockchip_rk3588_evb7_v11_defconfig
26. rockchip_rk3588_ipc_evb1_v10_defconfig
27. rockchip_rk3588_ipc_evb7_lp4_v11_defconfig
28. rockchip_rk3588_multi_ipc_evb1_v10_defconfig
29. rockchip_rk3588s_evb1_lp4x_v10_defconfig
Which would you like? [1]:

Compilation

Full Compilation

Run

./build.sh all

The output firmware will be output/update/update.img

Partial Compilation

After a full compilation, if you modified kernel or uboot, you can do partial compilation to save time.

  • Only build u-boot, will generate u-boot/uboot.img
./build.sh uboot
  • Only build kernel, will generate kernel/extboot.img
./build.sh extboot
  • Pack all parts to update.img
./build.sh updateimg

Build Debian Firmware

Preparations

Run these two commands to install necessary tools

sudo apt update

sudo apt install repo git ssh make gcc libssl-dev liblz4-tool \
expect g++ patchelf chrpath gawk texinfo chrpath diffstat binfmt-support \
qemu-user-static live-build bison flex fakeroot cmake gcc-multilib g++-multilib \
unzip device-tree-compiler ncurses-dev p7zip-full

Download rootfs here Debian Rootfs, please use rootfs under kernel-6.1 folder.

After download, decompress and move the rootfs image to SDK/prebuilt_rootfs/, then create a symbolic link.

# Decompress
7z x debian12_xxxx_rootfs_xxxx.7z

# Move the rootfs image to sdk and then create a symbolic link.
mkdir ./SDK/prebuilt_rootfs/
mv debian12_xxxx_rootfs_xxxx.img ./SDK/prebuilt_rootfs/
cd ./SDK/prebuilt_rootfs/
ln -sf debian12_xxxx_rtoofs_xxxx.img rk3588_debian_rootfs.img
cd ..

Configurations

Run ./build.sh lunch to list all available configs, enter a number to select. Please choose one with "debian" keyword:

./build.sh lunch

############### Rockchip Linux SDK ###############

Manifest: rk3588_linux6.1_release_20241203_v1.1.1b.xml

Log colors: message notice warning error fatal

Log saved at /home4/lth/project/linux/rk3588_6.1_release/rk3588_6.1/output/sessions/2024-12-11_09-15-44
Pick a defconfig:

1. rockchip_defconfig
2. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588l_debian_defconfig
3. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588q_debian_defconfig
4. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588sjd4_debian_defconfig
5. firefly_rk3588_itx-3588j_buildroot_defconfig
6. firefly_rk3588_itx-3588j_debian_defconfig
7. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt-ext-10ge_debian_defconfig
8. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt-ext-2g5e_debian_defconfig
9. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt_debian_defconfig
10. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588s-pc-ext_debian_defconfig
11. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588s-pc_debian_defconfig
12. rockchip_rk3588_evb1_lp4_v10_defconfig
13. rockchip_rk3588_evb7_v11_defconfig
14. rockchip_rk3588_ipc_evb1_v10_defconfig
15. rockchip_rk3588_ipc_evb7_lp4_v11_defconfig
16. rockchip_rk3588_multi_ipc_evb1_v10_defconfig
17. rockchip_rk3588s_evb1_lp4x_v10_defconfig
Which would you like? [1]:

Compilation

Full Compilation

Run

./build.sh all

The output firmware will be output/update/update.img

Partial Compilation

After a full compilation, if you modified kernel or uboot, you can do partial compilation to save time.

  • Only build u-boot, will generate u-boot/uboot.img
./build.sh uboot
  • Only build kernel, will generate kernel/extboot.img
./build.sh extboot
  • Pack all parts to update.img
./build.sh updateimg

Build Buildroot Firmware

Preparations

Run these two commands to install necessary tools

sudo apt update

sudo apt install repo git ssh make gcc libssl-dev liblz4-tool \
expect g++ patchelf chrpath gawk texinfo chrpath diffstat binfmt-support \
qemu-user-static live-build bison flex fakeroot cmake gcc-multilib g++-multilib \
unzip device-tree-compiler ncurses-dev

Configurations

Run ./build.sh lunch to list all available configs, enter a number to select. Please choose one with "buildroot" keyword:

./build.sh lunch

############### Rockchip Linux SDK ###############

Manifest: rk3588_linux6.1_release_20241203_v1.1.1b.xml

Log colors: message notice warning error fatal

Log saved at /home4/lth/project/linux/rk3588_6.1_release/rk3588_6.1/output/sessions/2024-12-11_09-15-44
Pick a defconfig:

1. rockchip_defconfig
2. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588l_debian_defconfig
3. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588q_debian_defconfig
4. firefly_rk3588_aio-3588sjd4_debian_defconfig
5. firefly_rk3588_itx-3588j_buildroot_defconfig
6. firefly_rk3588_itx-3588j_debian_defconfig
7. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt-ext-10ge_debian_defconfig
8. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt-ext-2g5e_debian_defconfig
9. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588-rt_debian_defconfig
10. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588s-pc-ext_debian_defconfig
11. firefly_rk3588_roc-rk3588s-pc_debian_defconfig
12. rockchip_rk3588_evb1_lp4_v10_defconfig
13. rockchip_rk3588_evb7_v11_defconfig
14. rockchip_rk3588_ipc_evb1_v10_defconfig
15. rockchip_rk3588_ipc_evb7_lp4_v11_defconfig
16. rockchip_rk3588_multi_ipc_evb1_v10_defconfig
17. rockchip_rk3588s_evb1_lp4x_v10_defconfig
Which would you like? [1]:

Compilation

Full Compilation

Run

./build.sh all

The output firmware will be output/update/update.img

Partial Compilation

After a full compilation, if you modified kernel or uboot, you can do partial compilation to save time.

  • Only build u-boot, will generate u-boot/uboot.img
./build.sh uboot
  • Only build kernel, will generate kernel/extboot.img
./build.sh extboot
  • Pack all parts to update.img
./build.sh updateimg

But if you modified buildroot, you need to do full compilation.

On this page

Compile Linux firmware
kernel 6.1
1Download the SDK
2Compile firmware
debian
Build Debian Firmware
1Preparations
2Configurations
3Compilation
Full Compilation
Partial Compilation