i.MX515 Project
Port Nokia's Qt for Embedded Linux to i.MX515in category Applications & Software
proposed by jmc on 6th February 2009
Project Proposal
Qt for Embedded Linux (Qt4EL), in theory, should be a simple compilation from source. However, even if Qt for Embedded Linux successfully compiles; kernel, toolchain, instruction-set, microarchitectural, and i.MX515-specific issues and optimizations all require added effort. Much of this time would be best spent by isolating bottlenecks and bugs, and working with the relevant upstream projects for mutually beneficial solutions.Qt4EL obviates the need for a X11 server, reducing base system requirements. Software developed for Qt4EL have the added benefit of using the same tooling and APIs as Qt's other supported platforms including Windows, Mac OS, Linux/X11, Windows CE and the pending S60 port. Qt for Linux/X11 can for all intents and purposes be considered to be a subset of Qt for Embedded Linux, which in and of itself is the base for Qt Extended.
Qt for Embedded Linux is Linux environ agnostic. This agnosticism includes traditional distributions such as Fedora and Debian and distribution build systems such as Freescale's Linux Target Image Builder (LTIB), the OpenEmbedded Project (OE), or Linux From Scratch (LFS).
Qt4EL can write directly to a framebuffer, but can also take advantage of hardware graphics acceleration. If hardware OpenGL acceleration for the i.MX515 is attained for the Linux ecosystem at-large, and OpenVG hardware acceleration is not, OpenVG acceleration could still be acquired via Qt4EL's QtOpenGL module.[1]
With Nokia opening up Qt4EL to wider adoption through the addition of the GNU Lesser General Public License, version 2.1 (LGPL v2.1) [2], the i.MX515 would have a software stack worthy of its hardware pedigree and the engineering expertise invested in its development.
Benefits such as these make a Qt for Embedded Linux port all the more compelling, as it would provide a robust application development platform immediately, even if the more tantalizing aspects of the i.MX515 lie fallow while Linux kernel and systems developers strive to unlock the full capabilities of Freescale's i.MX5 SoCs.
[1] OpenVG. (2009, January 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:23, February 6, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=OpenVG&oldid=263359161
[2] http://www.qtsoftware.com/about/licensing/frequently-asked-questions#what-platforms-operating-systems
Project Blog Entries
Linuxdevices.com reports Qt 4.5 ships, as Qtopia bows out. Nokia's Qt Software is pushing to have Qtopia/Qt for Embedded Linux/Qt Extended's functionality folded into Qt-4.x proper.
From the article in question:
"Qt Software's Benoit Schillings, chief technologist, called the change an 'evolution,' rather than a discontinuation, though. Schillings commented, 'A lot of Qt Extended's APIs add functionality specific to a class of devices, such as adding support for Bluetooth, IP telephony, or input devices like touchscreens. Today, those things make sense not only in a mobile device, but in a cross-platform environment. We are taking APIs and functionality specific to the embedded device market and moving it into the mainstream release. . . so, for example, you will see the Qtopia UI move to other platforms.'"
It's not that a port of Qt for Embedded Linux still isn't attractive, but given Qt Software's increasing focus on Qt "proper", up-front porting efforts focusing upon the newly released, and now officially LGPL, mainstream Qt-4.5 should have a longer-term return on investment for the i.MX515 SoC than a sole focus on Qt for Embedded Linux.