Embedded Linux systems consist of a multitude of individual software components (packages), which are combined into a board support package (BSP) that is optimized with regard to hardware and functionality. Since embedded systems usually define high demands on quality and maintainability due to their extended life spans this must also be reflected by the software assembly.

In order to facilitate this process and also to aid the cooperation of developers working at different locations, emlix has developed the build system e2 factory. This system guarantees that such a board support package is reproducible independently of any individual persons, and thereby ensures that it can be maintained throughout its entire life cycle.

In addition, e2 factory forms the basis for seamless support for end product manufacturers. It is based on a software repository, in which all the utilized packages are optimized and serviced in a way that makes validation possible.

The system allows consistent version administration and cross-development to be performed, while the software and the configurations are managed centrally at the same time. This even applies without restriction to the integration of software components from other partners. Thanks to the independence from any concrete source code management system, innovations from the open source community can be integrated smoothly, even during the ongoing development process.

Furthermore, e2 factory automatically documents the individual open source licences of each of the utilized software modules and thus allows free software to be used in a legally safe way. 

e2 factory is available as a Community Edition under GPLv3 and can be downloaded freely. For the use in industrial development projects emlix concomitantly offers a Professional Edition including a service contract. This quality assured edition is tested in appropriate settings, validated and documented.