Skip to content

Qt

Creating A Custom Yocto Layer

After having built the reference Linux image from a SoM, SoC or terminal maker and having run it on the board, we must inevitably custom-tailor this image to our needs. We must create our own Yocto layer. We must remove all the unnecessary packages and make our core application start automatically on power-up. Here is a step-by-step guide how to turn the application layer for a Toradex Verdin iMX8M Plus board into our own custom layer. The guide should also work for other boards.

Read More »Creating A Custom Yocto Layer

My Talk “Hexagonal Architecture: The Standard for Qt Embedded Applications” at Meeting Embedded 2021

I gave a talk at Meeting Embedded 2021 on 4 November 2021. First, I introduced the hexagonal architecture (a.k.a. ports-and-adapters architecture) in general. Then, I showed a walking skeleton of the architecture for a harvester terminal.

Read More »My Talk “Hexagonal Architecture: The Standard for Qt Embedded Applications” at Meeting Embedded 2021
Ports-and-adapters architecture for harvester terminal with GUI, Cloud, Machine and Customer adapter.

My Talk “A Successful Architecture for Qt Embedded Systems” at Qt Day Italy 2021

Creating an architecture means answering many questions about the ecosystem, in which the Qt embedded system operates. While the questions are very similar for all Qt embedded systems, the answers and their priorities differ. So, you should be able to transfer the questions and answers from my running example, a harvester terminal, to your system.

Read More »My Talk “A Successful Architecture for Qt Embedded Systems” at Qt Day Italy 2021
Window manager showing split view of home (left) and of turbine cam (right).

Architecture of Qt Embedded Systems: Single vs. Multiple GUI Applications

Our quest for a successful architecture of a harvester terminal continues. In this episode, we discuss when a system with a single application is good enough and when a system with multiple applications and a window manager is the better choice. Sometimes, a single-application system with a window manager is just the right choice.

Read More »Architecture of Qt Embedded Systems: Single vs. Multiple GUI Applications

Using Qt 5.15 and Qt 6 under LGPLv3

Nearly exactly 5 years ago, I wrote my first article about Using Qt 5.6 and Later under LGPL. The trigger then was the switch from LGPLv2.1 to LGPLv3 with Qt 5.6. The trigger now is the switch from Qt 5 to Qt 6. All the Qt modules under LGPLv3 5 years ago are still available under LGPLv3 – unless they have been retired. Some new modules like Charts, CoAP and MQTT were only available under Qt Commercial until Qt 5.15, but are now available under the new Marketplace license for 50-300 USD per year (no royalties). Some new modules like Quick 3D and WebAssembly are only commercially available. All in all not much changed: You can still build fantastic HMIs with Qt LGPLv3.

Read More »Using Qt 5.15 and Qt 6 under LGPLv3
Application on monitor in portait orientation powered by Verdin i.MX8M Mini.

Showing Wayland Compositor Fullscreen in Portrait Orientation

Our Qt embedded system is displayed on a monitor mounted in portrait orientation. The system runs the Wayland compositor Weston as a window manager. HMI applications are shown rotated by 90 degrees – in landscape orientation. The system toolbar of Weston is visible. How can we configure Weston so that the applications are shown in portrait orientation and so that the system toolbar is removed?

Read More »Showing Wayland Compositor Fullscreen in Portrait Orientation