Digia updates Qt Enterprise Embedded

It contains all the tools needed for fast, easy, fully-integrated embedded device application development and deployment – further increasing developer efficiency, application and device performance, and shortening the development time of embedded software. With Qt Enterprise Embedded it is as easy to develop embedded software as it is to build applications for desktop or mobile.

Qt Enterprise Embedded brings performance, efficiency and shorter-time-to-market to embedded development allowing engineers to create beautiful, high-performing and modern UIs and applications. The pre-configured embedded development environment, pre-built Qt optimised software stack enables immediate deployment to verified reference boards allowing users to get up and running and have a working embedded project prototype from day one.

This Qt Enterprise Embedded update introduces a first look at Qt WebEngine, a powerful cross-platform web offering that combines Qt Quick for native apps for maximum performance, HTML5 for dynamic web content and reusability across web and native - with WebGL support for whenever extra 3D elegance needs to be added to the UI. Qt WebEngine is particularly important for embedded devices that need to offer on-demand web access and where the ability to develop hybrid UIs and functionality is key to keep up with changing market requirements.

“User experience demands on embedded device creation have changed dramatically over the years, with users in fast-paced industries now demanding performing beautiful interfaces that run fluently at 60fps with smooth transitions, animations and pinch zooming. Not only does the UI need to look innovative and modern, it needs to be developed in a fraction of time. Qt Enterprise Embedded has been created to address the need to get devices to market faster providing the tools necessary to make development easier and more efficient supporting the latest connected devices trends,” says Juhapekka Niemi, VP Sales & Marketing, Digia, Qt.

Qt Enterprise Embedded also includes the recently announced Qt Quick Compiler. Qt Quick Compiler is a new professional build tool, which allows for the compilation of QML files into an application. The compiler ensures IP protection of the the QML source and improves load time and performance by pre-parsing the QML files. With compiled Qt Quick, application start up is up to 90% faster than before, a key requirement in various embedded verticals.

Incremental deployment to devices is also being introduced to reduce the time it takes to deploy software to devices. Previous versions of Qt Enterprise Embedded offered USB-connection to the device as the primary way to deploy, run and debug on devices. The latest version adds the possibility of connecting to devices over a local area network using standard IP protocols – simplifying the sharing of devices amongst team members and setting up devices for automated testing.

The update to Qt Enterprise Embedded also provides full integration with Qt Cloud Services and the Enginio Data Storage to enable users to create a whole cloud backend for embedded, mobile and desktop Qt clients through a convenient Qt API. Together with the newly added Bluetooth support (using BlueZ) and the existing WiFi and wired network support, the platform provides everything needed for implementing, monitoring and updating internet-of-things devices from within a single technology.

Qt Enterprise Embedded also provides the full set of Qt Enterprise value-add functionality, including a comprehensive virtual keyboard solution with multi-language and word-prediction possibilities, support for Qt Quick Enterprise Controls for industrial applications and libraries for 2D and 3D charting and data visualisation.

The Qt Enterprise Embedded development environment runs on Ubuntu Linux 64-bit 12.04 LTS or later. Target hardware supported as standard at time of launch includes: Google Nexus 7 tablet 2012 & 2013 version; Boundary Devices SabreLite (Freescale i.MX 6); SABRE Board/Platform for smart devices (Freescale i.MX 6Quad); Raspberry Pi Model B (ARM11); and BeagleBone Black (TI AM335x). Digia is also able to port the software stack to custom hardware. The Qt Enterprise Embedded Emulator is included within the development environment. Qt Enterprise Embedded comes with Yocto –based tooling that easily extends the provided configurations to match the final hardware design as well as supports other hardware environments.