It's time to tear the wall down. For too long, an onerous and obsolete barrier has divided the worlds of proprietary and open source software. A barrier that has forced developers to choose between one world or the other — when they could be enjoying benefits of both.

The best of both worlds

Enter the QNX hybrid software model. Designed to meet developers on their own terms, this new model brings together the very best of the proprietary and open source domains. The result: A potent synthesis that fuels the passion for developing embedded systems while supporting the business of profiting from them.

For the first time, embedded developers can leverage all the commercial benefits of proprietary software — quality product management, published roadmaps, IP protection, and professional support — while enjoying the development benefits of open source. Benefits such as faster bug fixes. Easier customization. Greater self-sufficiency. A supportive community. And the power to have a say about technologies critical to your software project.

To create the new hybrid software model, QNX Software Systems has launched three bold initiatives:

• Simple, free-of-charge access to QNX source code, starting with the award-winning QNX Neutrino microkernel.
  
• A flexible, commercial-friendly licensing model that lets developers keep their source modifications or share them with the rest of the QNX community.
  
• A transparent development process in which QNX develops its products out in the open. From now on, QNX community members can both track and participate in QNX product development.
  

A developer-centric model

The hybrid software model is about meeting developers on their own terms. So it starts by making OS source code easily accessible. That way, developers can analyze the OS to better integrate their own code, customize OS components for application-specific requirements, and save considerable time when troubleshooting.

Just as important, the new model makes the development of QNX products open and transparent, for all to see. Developers can monitor the evolution of QNX products in real time and offer up suggestions, bug reports, or even code enhancements. They also gain immediate access to the latest code updates and bug fixes. There’s no more waiting for major product releases to access the “latest and greatest.”

To make all this possible, QNX has launched Foundry27, a developer portal that provides source repositories, forums, blogs, wikis, and, in the community spirit, a bazaar that lets developers share source code and binaries with one another. Whether the developer wants to download source, discuss ideas with fellow developers, or even create a new code project for the QNX community, Foundry27 offers the resources required.

A business-friendly model

Reciprocal open source licenses like the GPL offer limited commercial incentive, since they force developers and companies to contribute back their code changes or extensions. The new hybrid software model takes a much more flexible approach. Licensees can share their code changes freely with the QNX community, offer them back to QNX for potential integration into core product, or keep them proprietary for competitive reasons. The choice is theirs.

At the same time, QNX will maintain the quality and integrity of its products through continued product management. Although access to OS source code is free, QNX will ensure the commercial releases of its code base are validated within the company’s ISO-certified environment.

A community-enabling model

Technology partners, educators, students, and hobbyists — they all benefit from the free and generous licensing terms that QNX now offers. Qualifying partners, for example, receive unlimited development seats and participate free of charge in the QNX Partner network. Combined with source code access, these new licensing terms make it much easier for partners to integrate their technologies with QNX products.

Noncommercial users, meanwhile, get copies of development seats with no time constraints. Better yet, they get the full working version of the QNX Momentics development suite, not a crippled version. Everything is there for them to play and experiment with, including tools, an Eclipse-based IDE, and the QNX Neutrino RTOS.

Best of all, the entire QNX community — commercial developers, noncommercial developers, and partners — can come together in the Foundry27 portal to share insights, information, and code.

The new rules of engagement

With the new hybrid software model, QNX is rewriting the rules of engagement between software vendors and developers. Goodbye to the limiting categories of “proprietary” and “open.” Hello to a new synthesis that addresses the business needs of commercial users while enabling a larger community and greater developer productivity.

Accessible source code, generous licensing terms, a transparent development process, and a new community portal: it all adds up to a model that engages customers, partners, and noncommercial users alike.