git clone https://github.com/rockchip-linux/rkdeveloptool.git
cd rkdeveloptool
sudo apt install libusb-1.0-0-dev
make
sudo cp rkdeveloptool /usr/local/bin/
The flash-all.sh script is the main entry point.
sudo ./flash-all.sh -d /dev/sdX -i Armbian_*.img
(Replace /dev/sdX with your eMMC device letter found via lsblk before connecting the board.)
Alternatively, for direct USB flashing when the eMMC is not mounted as a block device: libretech-flash-tool
sudo ./flash-loader.sh -s s905x -b lepotato -u /dev/ttyACM0 -f u-boot.bin
For developers who need the absolute latest fixes, compile the tool and its dependencies yourself:
git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/libre-computer-project/libretech-flash-tool.git
cd libretech-flash-tool
make dependencies # Downloads and compiles rkdeveloptool, amlogic-usb-load, etc.
make all
sudo make install # Copies scripts to /usr/local/bin/
This process also compiles a custom flashrom version with SPI drivers for the board's exact chipset (e.g., Winbond W25Q128). git clone https://github
| Feature | dd (CLI) | BalenaEtcher (GUI) | libretech-flash-tool |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| SD Card Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| eMMC Direct | Difficult (requires mount) | Yes (if mounted) | Yes (via SoC protocols) |
| SPI Flashing | No | No | Yes |
| Network Boot | No | No | Yes (iPXE Server) |
| Image Validation | Manual | Automatic | Automatic |
Before running the libretech-flash-tool, you need a Linux host system (Ubuntu/Debian recommended). Windows users should use WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) or a live USB. The flash-all
In the contemporary computing landscape, the battle for user freedom has largely shifted from the operating system to the firmware layer. While the Linux kernel and GNU utilities are celebrated bastions of open-source software, the low-level code that initializes hardware—the BIOS, UEFI, and bootloaders—remains, for most users, a proprietary black box. This hidden code can contain backdoors, impose hardware restrictions, or simply abandon a device after a short commercial lifespan. The Libretech Flash Tool emerges as a critical software utility in the fight against this opaque ecosystem, acting as a secure, user-controlled bridge to liberate embedded systems from proprietary firmware shackles.