QNX Publishes Source Code for Multi-Core Support
EMBEDDED SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, BOSTON, Sept. 19 / -- On the heels of a dramatic shift to its software licensing and development models, QNX Software Systems today announced it has included source code for its symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) capabilities in the core QNX® Neutrino® realtime operating system (RTOS) source code repository. QNX recently published the source code for its award-winning, microkernel-based OS and made the code available for download under a ne hybrid software licensing model.
Building upon its mature support for MIPS, PowerPC, and x86 multi-core architectures, QNX is adding reference implementations for ARM11 MPCore and Renesas SH-X3 multi-core designs. Source code will be made available to the QNX community via the QNX Foundry27 portal.
These changes are part of a new hybrid software model created by QNX that supports the customer's goal of profiting from software while fueling the passion for developing it. The first source release includes the code to the QNX Neutrino microkernel, the base C library, and a variety of board support packages (BSPs) for popular embedded and computing hardware.
"VDC expects increasing innovation around hybrid business models as suppliers like QNX adapt and embrace the underlying key benefits of the open- source model," said Steve Balacco, director, embedded software practice at Venture Development Corp. "With this move, QNX shows that a hybrid approach can blend the best of both worlds -- open and commercial -- to create a model that achieves technical cooperation and business benefits for all."
"The new hybrid software model has generated strong market interest," said Dave Curley, vice president of marketing at QNX Software Systems. "From Russia and Asia to Europe and North America, developers, partners, and pundits are all taking note. We are seeing hundreds of new community members joining daily and, of course, heavy download traffic as users take their first opportunity to access the source code at the very core of our RTOS."
Developers can not only view the QNX Neutrino source code, but also modify or extend that code for their own purposes or for the QNX community at large. They can then choose to offer back those changes to QNX Software Systems and the QNX development community or to keep their modifications private and proprietary.
Access to the QNX source code is free, but commercial deployments of QNX Neutrino runtime components still require royalties, and commercial developers will continue to pay for QNX Momentics® development seats. However, noncommercial developers, academic faculty members, and qualified partners will be given access to QNX development tools and runtime products at no charge.
New Community Portal
QNX also introduced a new community portal website, called Foundry27, as the hub for its transparent development initiative. At Foundry27, customers and developers can access a wealth of resources relating to the QNX Neutrino RTOS and the QNX Momentics IDE, as well as to new community projects.
About QNX Software Systems
QNX Software Systems, a Harman International company, is the industry leader in realtime, embedded OS technology. The component-based architectures of the QNX® Neutrino® RTOS and QNX Momentics® development suite together provide the industry's most reliable and scalable framework for building innovative, high-performance embedded systems. Global leaders such as Cisco, DaimlerChrysler, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, and Siemens depend on QNX technology for network routers, medical instruments, vehicle telematics units, security and defense systems, industrial robotics, and other mission- or life-critical applications. Founded in 1980, QNX Software Systems is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and distributes products in over 100 countries worldwide.
FCMN Contact: ajgosselin@schwartz-pr.com
Source: QNX Software Systems
CONTACT: Jennifer Barlow or Bill Keeler, +1-781-684-0770, qnx@schwartz-pr.com, both of Schwartz Communications for QNX Software Systems; or Paul Leroux of QNX Software Systems, +1-613-591-0931, paull@qnx.com
Web site: www.qnx.com
