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Mastering Embedded Linux Development
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Being able to update the software on devices in the field is at the very least a useful attribute. If the device is connected to the internet, then updating software in the field is an absolute must. And yet, all too often it is a feature that is left until the last part of a project, on the assumption that it is not a hard problem to solve. In this chapter, I hope that I have illustrated the various problems associated with designing an effective and robust update mechanism. There are also several open-source options readily available. You do not have to reinvent the wheel anymore.
The two approaches used most often are the symmetric image (A/B) update or its cousin, the asymmetric (recovery) image update. Here, you have the choice of SWUpdate, RAUC, Mender, and fwup. A more recent innovation is the atomic file update in the form of OSTree. Atomic file update reduces the amount of data that needs to be downloaded and the amount of redundant storage that needs to be fitted...