Looking for Yocto-supported Reference Design

Looking for Yocto-supported Reference Design

[dave]

Hello,
	My name is David Richards and I am blind. I am new to Yocto. I would
like to build a portable talking e-book reader. The goal is to support
DAISY, Audible, Kindle, and epub books. In addition, I would like to be able
to stream MP3 content. To that end, I am looking for a reference design to
base the project on. It does not require/use a display or touchpad. The user
interface will utilize buttons and speech output. The design should have
existing Yocto support, if possible.
	Does anyone have any pointers for a reference design I could start
with?
	Many thanks,
	David

Re: [yocto] Looking for Yocto-supported Reference Design

[Khem Raj]

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Hi David

Sometime ago, there was a kobo reader layer for yocto

https://github.com/kevinior/meta-kobo-clara-hd

It might be outdated now, but it might be a useful reference.

On Mon, May 11, 2026 at 1:54 PM dave via lists.yoctoproject.org <dave=
synergy.org@lists.yoctoproject.org> wrote:

> Hello,
>         My name is David Richards and I am blind. I am new to Yocto. I
> would
> like to build a portable talking e-book reader. The goal is to support
> DAISY, Audible, Kindle, and epub books. In addition, I would like to be
> able
> to stream MP3 content. To that end, I am looking for a reference design to
> base the project on. It does not require/use a display or touchpad. The
> user
> interface will utilize buttons and speech output. The design should have
> existing Yocto support, if possible.
>         Does anyone have any pointers for a reference design I could start
> with?
>         Many thanks,
>         David
>
>
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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> You automatically follow any topics you start or reply to.
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> Group Owner: yocto+owner@lists.yoctoproject.org
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> raj.khem@gmail.com]
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>
>

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Re: [yocto] Looking for Yocto-supported Reference Design

[Richard Purdie]

Hi David,

On Mon, 2026-05-11 at 13:53 -0700, dave via lists.yoctoproject.org wrote:
> 	My name is David Richards and I am blind. I am new to Yocto. I would
> like to build a portable talking e-book reader. The goal is to support
> DAISY, Audible, Kindle, and epub books. In addition, I would like to be able
> to stream MP3 content. To that end, I am looking for a reference design to
> base the project on. It does not require/use a display or touchpad. The user
> interface will utilize buttons and speech output. The design should have
> existing Yocto support, if possible.
> 	Does anyone have any pointers for a reference design I could start
> with?

There are many boards with OE/Yocto Project support. You can get an
idea of them all from the layer index's list of machines which is
showing 22 pages of them! 

https://layers.openembedded.org/layerindex/branch/master/machines/?q=&browse=1

Some have better support than others, we've had the Beagle devices like
the BeaglePlay and earlier devices like the BeagleBone and BeagleBoard
supported as one of our test platforms for a long time. That has basic
support in meta-yocto with beaglebone-yocto and a full BSP from TI as
well. There are others like the various RaspberryPis and may more,
including more experimental ones with RISC-V processors.

It sounds like the audio output might be important to you and however
you plan to interface the buttons to the system so that may be
something to factor in. You might need USB? That might narrow down your
choice. I'd probably try and find a board which holds interest to you
as well.

Cheers,

Richard

Re: [yocto] Looking for Yocto-supported Reference Design

[John Dowd]

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David,

I've started on exactly the same kind of project for my own purposes. I've
been using a Raspberry Pi 0 2W for my development. I needed the wifi and BT
connectivity so I started with it. Please feel free to get in touch if you
have any questions.

Cheers!!

On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 8:13 AM Richard Purdie via lists.yoctoproject.org
<richard.purdie=linuxfoundation.org@lists.yoctoproject.org> wrote:

> Hi David,
>
> On Mon, 2026-05-11 at 13:53 -0700, dave via lists.yoctoproject.org wrote:
> >       My name is David Richards and I am blind. I am new to Yocto. I
> would
> > like to build a portable talking e-book reader. The goal is to support
> > DAISY, Audible, Kindle, and epub books. In addition, I would like to be
> able
> > to stream MP3 content. To that end, I am looking for a reference design
> to
> > base the project on. It does not require/use a display or touchpad. The
> user
> > interface will utilize buttons and speech output. The design should have
> > existing Yocto support, if possible.
> >       Does anyone have any pointers for a reference design I could start
> > with?
>
> There are many boards with OE/Yocto Project support. You can get an
> idea of them all from the layer index's list of machines which is
> showing 22 pages of them!
>
>
> https://layers.openembedded.org/layerindex/branch/master/machines/?q=&browse=1
>
> Some have better support than others, we've had the Beagle devices like
> the BeaglePlay and earlier devices like the BeagleBone and BeagleBoard
> supported as one of our test platforms for a long time. That has basic
> support in meta-yocto with beaglebone-yocto and a full BSP from TI as
> well. There are others like the various RaspberryPis and may more,
> including more experimental ones with RISC-V processors.
>
> It sounds like the audio output might be important to you and however
> you plan to interface the buttons to the system so that may be
> something to factor in. You might need USB? That might narrow down your
> choice. I'd probably try and find a board which holds interest to you
> as well.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard
>
>
>
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
> View/Reply Online (#66534):
> https://lists.yoctoproject.org/g/yocto/message/66534
> Mute This Topic: https://lists.yoctoproject.org/mt/119264506/9366835
> Group Owner: yocto+owner@lists.yoctoproject.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.yoctoproject.org/g/yocto/unsub [
> jdowd@slashdevslashnull.org]
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>
>

-- 
"To err is human, to forgive is not company policy."

John Dowd
Contract - Software Developer
Cell: (613)316-7884

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RE: [yocto] Looking for Yocto-supported Reference Design

[dave]

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Raj, Richard, John,

               Thank you for the excellent suggestions! John, It’s good to know that you are working on a similar project. I will run these ideas down.

               David

 

From: yocto@lists.yoctoproject.org <yocto@lists.yoctoproject.org> On Behalf Of John
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 6:12 AM
To: yocto@lists.yoctoproject.org; richard.purdie@linuxfoundation.org
Subject: Re: [yocto] Looking for Yocto-supported Reference Design

 

David,

 

I've started on exactly the same kind of project for my own purposes. I've been using a Raspberry Pi 0 2W for my development. I needed the wifi and BT connectivity so I started with it. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

 

Cheers!!

 

On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 8:13 AM Richard Purdie via lists.yoctoproject.org <http://lists.yoctoproject.org>  <richard.purdie=linuxfoundation.org@lists.yoctoproject.org <mailto:linuxfoundation.org@lists.yoctoproject.org> > wrote:

Hi David,

On Mon, 2026-05-11 at 13:53 -0700, dave via lists.yoctoproject.org <http://lists.yoctoproject.org>  wrote:
>       My name is David Richards and I am blind. I am new to Yocto. I would
> like to build a portable talking e-book reader. The goal is to support
> DAISY, Audible, Kindle, and epub books. In addition, I would like to be able
> to stream MP3 content. To that end, I am looking for a reference design to
> base the project on. It does not require/use a display or touchpad. The user
> interface will utilize buttons and speech output. The design should have
> existing Yocto support, if possible.
>       Does anyone have any pointers for a reference design I could start
> with?

There are many boards with OE/Yocto Project support. You can get an
idea of them all from the layer index's list of machines which is
showing 22 pages of them! 

https://layers.openembedded.org/layerindex/branch/master/machines/?q= <https://layers.openembedded.org/layerindex/branch/master/machines/?q=&browse=1> &browse=1

Some have better support than others, we've had the Beagle devices like
the BeaglePlay and earlier devices like the BeagleBone and BeagleBoard
supported as one of our test platforms for a long time. That has basic
support in meta-yocto with beaglebone-yocto and a full BSP from TI as
well. There are others like the various RaspberryPis and may more,
including more experimental ones with RISC-V processors.

It sounds like the audio output might be important to you and however
you plan to interface the buttons to the system so that may be
something to factor in. You might need USB? That might narrow down your
choice. I'd probably try and find a board which holds interest to you
as well.

Cheers,

Richard










 

-- 

"To err is human, to forgive is not company policy."

 

John Dowd

Contract - Software Developer

Cell: (613)316-7884


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Re: [yocto] Looking for Yocto-supported Reference Design

[John Dowd]

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Dave,

I couldn't get a Yocto (scarthgap) to work with the platform completely out
of the box. I had to create a series of my own patches and I still haven't
gotten the bluetooth to work. However I do have it booting, and all the
usual support services are working. The wifi works as well. I need the
bluetooth since I of course, need an audio output and I want to use a
bluetooth headset.

Again, stay in touch and I'm glad to share my work. I'm not looking to make
money here, just have a device that people can use and find helpful and
enjoy life as it should be. With Books!

Cheers!!

On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM <dave@synergy.org> wrote:

> Raj, Richard, John,
>
>                Thank you for the excellent suggestions! John, It’s good to
> know that you are working on a similar project. I will run these ideas down.
>
>                David
>
>
>
> *From:* yocto@lists.yoctoproject.org <yocto@lists.yoctoproject.org> *On
> Behalf Of *John
> *Sent:* Tuesday, May 12, 2026 6:12 AM
> *To:* yocto@lists.yoctoproject.org; richard.purdie@linuxfoundation.org
> *Subject:* Re: [yocto] Looking for Yocto-supported Reference Design
>
>
>
> David,
>
>
>
> I've started on exactly the same kind of project for my own purposes. I've
> been using a Raspberry Pi 0 2W for my development. I needed the wifi and BT
> connectivity so I started with it. Please feel free to get in touch if you
> have any questions.
>
>
>
> Cheers!!
>
>
>
> On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 8:13 AM Richard Purdie via lists.yoctoproject.org
> <richard.purdie=linuxfoundation.org@lists.yoctoproject.org> wrote:
>
> Hi David,
>
> On Mon, 2026-05-11 at 13:53 -0700, dave via lists.yoctoproject.org wrote:
> >       My name is David Richards and I am blind. I am new to Yocto. I
> would
> > like to build a portable talking e-book reader. The goal is to support
> > DAISY, Audible, Kindle, and epub books. In addition, I would like to be
> able
> > to stream MP3 content. To that end, I am looking for a reference design
> to
> > base the project on. It does not require/use a display or touchpad. The
> user
> > interface will utilize buttons and speech output. The design should have
> > existing Yocto support, if possible.
> >       Does anyone have any pointers for a reference design I could start
> > with?
>
> There are many boards with OE/Yocto Project support. You can get an
> idea of them all from the layer index's list of machines which is
> showing 22 pages of them!
>
>
> https://layers.openembedded.org/layerindex/branch/master/machines/?q=&browse=1
>
> Some have better support than others, we've had the Beagle devices like
> the BeaglePlay and earlier devices like the BeagleBone and BeagleBoard
> supported as one of our test platforms for a long time. That has basic
> support in meta-yocto with beaglebone-yocto and a full BSP from TI as
> well. There are others like the various RaspberryPis and may more,
> including more experimental ones with RISC-V processors.
>
> It sounds like the audio output might be important to you and however
> you plan to interface the buttons to the system so that may be
> something to factor in. You might need USB? That might narrow down your
> choice. I'd probably try and find a board which holds interest to you
> as well.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> "To err is human, to forgive is not company policy."
>
>
>
> John Dowd
>
> Contract - Software Developer
>
> Cell: (613)316-7884
>


-- 
"To err is human, to forgive is not company policy."

John Dowd
Contract - Software Developer
Cell: (613)316-7884

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