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Software Releases

Overview​

Tachyon software releases are built and managed using a release build system on GitHub. These releases are structured to support different board types, regions, and software variants. Below are the key details regarding how software releases are structured and distributed.

Region-Based Builds​

Tachyon software releases are region-dependent due to modem differences. There are two primary regional builds:

  • North America (NA)
  • Rest of World (RoW)

Each region has a separate release to accommodate modem variations.

Board Variants​

Tachyon software is built to support several board types:

  • Big Board 3 (BB3) and Big Board 4 (BB4) – Design complete but non-form factor.
  • EVT Boards
    • Includes EVT1 and EVT2 variants.
  • DVT and Product Boards
    • Pending distribution.

Most developers will primarily be working with EVT boards at this stage.

Software Variants​

Tachyon software is built in two distinct variants:

1/ Headless Variant​

  • Does not include a desktop experience.
  • Provides limited HDMI output.
  • Designed primarily for headless or embedded development.

2/ Desktop Variant​

  • Includes a full Ubuntu desktop experience.
  • Available as an option during setup.
  • Ideal for prototyping and demo workflows.

Release Distribution​

Tachyon software releases are announced in the #tachyon-sw Slack channel.

🔧 Installation​

By default, running:

particle tachyon setup

installs the latest software release automatically. • Releases can also be installed manually via the Particle CLI. • All software releases are hosted on the Tachyon Software Release CDN. • For detailed manual installation steps, refer to the installation guide.

Monolithic Release Structure​

Currently, Tachyon software releases are monolithic, meaning each release includes: • Linux kernel image • Device configuration • System disk image

Installing a base image will wipe all contents from the device, including: • Applications • User-installed configurations

This ensures consistency across developer units but results in a full system reset with each update.

Future releases may support incremental or delta updates to allow more flexibility without resetting user data.

OS Support and Roadmap​

At present, Tachyon is shipping with Ubuntu 20.04, a much older version of both the OS and the kernel. While the device is in solid working order, we recognize the need to transition to newer versions.

We already have active Linux deployments that span: • Legacy support: Ubuntu 12.04 • Current development: Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04 • Experimental platforms: Yocto, Debian, Raspbian, and Fedora

Each OS variant comes with its own nuances, especially around hardware acceleration and software accessibility, but the fundamentals are working well. The models and frameworks port cleanly as long as the CPU remains consistent.

Our main target is to get Ubuntu 22.04 into a demonstrable state within the next 2 months. We are also actively tracking QCOM’s Debian reference work.

We strongly believe in an open and easy-to-use platform as the best path to success with developers.

Our Ubuntu 22.04 build follows standard open source practices, using: • A mainline or close-to-mainline kernel • An open bootloader • A clean Debian filesystem

Notably, this is all done without a Yocto base.

Some software functionality is still missing from the 22.04 open-source build, which makes it better suited as an evaluation unit for now—but we are committed to delivering a stable release milestone.