Expandable to Max – MCU and MPU development, using the same license

Scalability to the Max – MCU and MPU Development with the Same License

It can be extended to Max–MCU and MPU Development , Use the same license

Thursday June 09, 2022 by Peter Schneider | Comments

​2022 year 6 month 9 Thursday, Sunday Peter Schneider Comment on

Developing a portfolio of devices cost-effectively can be challenging. It helps when you need only one development tool for any hardware technology.

Cost effective development of the equipment portfolio can be a challenge . When any hardware technology requires only one development tool , It will help .

A Portfolio Example from the Past

Past portfolio examples

In 2011, I worked in the product management at Nokia when we build the Nokia N9 smartphone running an operating system called MeeGo. When we developed the MeeGo operating system, a Linux-based operating system for smartphones and tablets, we were constantly thinking about scalability. We needed the OS to scale from low-end smartphones to high-performance tablets. The MeeGo OS had to run on anything from high-end Intel to low-end ARM CPU technologies. The UI had to scale from small smartphone resolutions to tablet-size devices.

​2011 year , I work in product management at Nokia , At that time, we produced Nokia N9 Smart phones run a system called MeeGo Operating system of . When we develop MeeGo operating system （ Based on the Linux Smart phone and tablet operating system ） when , We've been thinking about scalability . We need to expand the operating system from low-end smartphones to high-performance tablets .MeeGo The operating system must run from the high end Intel To low end ARM CPU Technology on any device . The user interface must be extended from the resolution of a small smartphone to a tablet sized device .

We designed and developed the MeeGo OS and its applications to scale nicely to different display sizes. But we needed to build in-house various hardware adaptations and firmware for the different chipset technologies those days. The costly hardware adaptation to maintain a broad product portfolio was one of the challenges, among many others, Nokia faced in the final years with its smartphone business.

We designed and developed MeeGo The operating system and Its Applications , It can be well extended to different display sizes . But at that time, we needed to build various internal hardware adapters and firmware for different chipset technologies . One of the many challenges facing Nokia in the last few years of its smartphone business is , Expensive hardware adjustments to maintain a broad product portfolio .

According to contributors at Wikipedia, Nokia attempted to scale their Meego smartphone portfolio to lower price points in a project with the codename Meltemi. The goal of the Meltemi project should have been a lightweight derivative of the MeeGo OS, which was "designed for borderline low-end smartphones." Building a derivative of the MeeGo OS for feature phones with smartphone-like experiences would have meant streamlining the UI framework and the OS middleware to adapt to the lower CPU and memory constraints. Having both a rich smartphone OS and similar experiences on less powerful hardware would have meant maintaining a streamlined version of some of the MeeGo OS components in the Meltemi project. Unfortunately, the MeeGo OS never had a chance to live up to its potential due to the platform strategy change to the Windows Phone OS. Also, the Meltemi project was discontinued in 2012, according to Wikipedia. 

​ According to Wikipedia （Wikipedia） The writer of , Nokia tried to put a code named Meltemi In the project , take Meego Expand the smartphone portfolio to lower prices .Meltemi The goal of the project should be MeeGo A lightweight derivative of the operating system , The operating system “ Designed for low-end smart phones on the edge ” Build for feature phones with a smartphone like experience MeeGo Operating system derivatives mean simplification UI Framework and operating system middleware , To accommodate the lower CPU And memory limits . Having a rich smartphone operating system and a similar experience on weaker hardware means that Meltemi Maintenance in the project MeeGo Simplified versions of operating system components . Unfortunately , because Windows Phone The platform policy of the operating system changes ,MeeGo The operating system has never had the opportunity to realize its potential . Besides , According to Wikipedia ,Meltemi Item in 2012 Year break . 

Scaling A Device Portfolio

Expand the device portfolio

Nowadays, developing a portfolio of connected devices with displays doesn’t need to be black magic. Challenges such as hardening the firmware are still on every embedded device developer’s mind, but things are a bit easier today. Qt offers an integrated software development platform and reference hardware adaptations from low-end Micro-Controller Units (MCUs) to high-end chipsets with Micro-Processing Units (MPUs). Qt launched the development toolkit for MCU-powered devices at the end of 2019. The Qt for MCU toolkit allows companies to benefit from the integrated software development platform capabilities.

Now , Developing a series of connected devices with monitors is not necessarily magic . Every embedded device developer is considering challenges such as firmware hardening , But things are easier today .Qt It provides an integrated software development platform and reference hardware , From the low-end microcontroller unit （MCU） To a microprocessor unit （MPU） High end chipset .2019 end of the year ,Qt Launched MCU Development kit for driving device .Qt for MCU Toolkits allow companies to benefit from integrated software development platform functionality .

 

Image: Qt for MCU toolkit assets such as Qt Creator IDE

chart ：Qt for MCU Toolkit assets , Such as Qt Creator IDE

Qt for MCU Benefits

Qt Yes MCU The benefits of

Front-end developers can import UI designs from Figma or Adobe XD and convert them to functional UI code running on both MCUs and MPUs. Full-stack developers can add the application logic to the UI in the Qt Creator IDE. The streamlined out-of-the-box UI controls accelerate the development process. The reference device images speed up the first boot on the target device. Since February 2022, customers no longer need a dedicated license to benefit from the MCU development toolkits. All the Qt capabilities for MCU and MPU-powered device development are available with any Qt Device Creation license package.

​ Front end developers can learn from Figma or Adobe XD Import UI Design , And convert it into MCU and MPU Functionality running on UI Code . Full stack developers can add application logic to Qt Creator IDE Of UI in . Simplified off the shelf UI Control accelerates the development process . The reference device image accelerates the first boot on the target device . since 2022 year 2 Month begins , Customers no longer need a dedicated license to get from MCU Benefit from the development kit . All for MCU and MPU Drive equipment development Qt Functions can be combined with any Qt Device creation license package for use with .

Overall, the Qt for MCU capabilities are a streamlined version of the UI enablers in the Qt framework bundled in dedicated software libraries. The lightweight graphics engine delivers a smooth, smartphone-like user experience. The entire application can then be compiled in different ways to optimize the performance for the available processing, caching, and memory configurations. While these capabilities were initially licensed separately, Qt for MCU is now available for all hardware device developers under the same license.

in general ,Qt for MCU The function is Qt In the frame UI A simplified version of the enabler , Bundled in a dedicated software library . The lightweight graphics engine provides smooth 、 A user experience similar to a smartphone . The entire application can then be compiled in different ways , To optimize available processing 、 Cache and memory configuration performance . Although these features were originally licensed separately , but Qt for MCU It is now available to all hardware device developers under the same license .

Summing it Up

To sum up

 While the MeeGo OS is a story from my career that is not directly related to the Qt for MCU evolution, it shows that companies have tried different approaches to effectively build a homogeneous customer experience across various price points of the portfolio. Qt for MCU is Qt’s proven way to scale customer experiences from MPU- to MCU-powered devices. The Qt for MCU technology is now in release 2.1 and has been adopted by many customers successfully. If you want to know more about Qt for MCU, please check out the Qt for the MCU web page. If you are already a customer with a Qt for Device Creation license, then you can immediately re-use your existing Qt-based User Interfaces and scale them to lower price points and higher product volumes on MCU-powered devices.

​ although MeeGo Operating system is a story in my career , And Qt for MCU Is not directly related to the development of , But it shows , The company has tried different approaches , Effectively build a homogeneous customer experience across the different price points of the portfolio .Qt for MCU yes Qt Proven to transform the customer experience from MPU Extended to MCU Method of driving equipment .Qt for MCU Technology is now available 2.1 edition , And has been successfully adopted by many customers . If you want to know about Qt for MCU For more information , Please check out Qt for MCU Webpage . If you already have Qt for Device Creation License customers , Then you can immediately reuse existing based on Qt The user interface , And in MCU Powered devices extend it to lower price points and higher product capacity .