"As well as using Qt to underpin Ubuntu's display framework, Qt is an integral part of Ubuntu's offering for developers who create mobile and desktop applications for Ubuntu devices. The Ubuntu SDK for device application developers is built around Qt which has been adopted by Ubuntu to create a powerful set of developer tools using Qt Quick to give developers comprehensive access to a range of system APIs and QML based UI components for deeply integrated application experiences."
Pat McGowan - Director of Engineering, Developer Tools, and Applications at Canonical
With Ubuntu’s and Qt’s joint desktop roots, Qt has been used to fuel the re-inventing of the mobile computing experience with Ubuntu on phones and tablets. This experience itself has given birth to a new version of Ubuntu called Ubuntu Core, dedicated to the world of IoT. By stripping down Ubuntu to its core essentials, Ubuntu can now be used on devices with much lower resource requirements than before. Combining Qt and Ubuntu Core equals a tested and production-ready platform particularly suited for IoT use cases, requiring a screen from digital signage, kiosks, smart mirrors, industrial control to fitness equipment.
Ubuntu is truly everywhere – from personal computers, servers and smartphones to the internet of things, clouds, smart gateways, humanoid robots and self-driving cars – and so is Qt. Established in 2004, Canonical – the company behind Ubuntu – set out on a mission to help open source software reach a wider market by providing services to governments and businesses to migrate, manage and support Ubuntu deployments worldwide.
Ubuntu Core is a stripped down version of Ubuntu, designed to run securely on autonomous machines, devices, and other internet-connected digital things. From homes to drones, these devices are set to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, but they need an operating system that is different from that of traditional PCs.
This minimal version of Ubuntu is designed for devices that are in production with a reduced memory footprint.
It is optimized for security with self-contained apps, signed apps, a read-only OS/Kernel, a failsafe over the air distribution and update mechanism… with the possibility to add a white label app store on top of any device. It runs the same code as Ubuntu for desktop, server and mobile and therefore benefits from the same reliability, frequent patch updates, libraries, and development environment as before.
Richard Collins, Richard Collins, Ubuntu Mobile Product Manager at Canonical
It is their mission to make open source software available to people everywhere. They believe the best way to fuel innovation is to give the innovators the technology they need.
Canonical was created alongside Ubuntu to help it reach a wider market. Their services help governments and businesses with migrations, management, and support for their Ubuntu deployments. Together with their partners, their ensure that Ubuntu runs reliably on every platform from the PC and the smartphone to the server and, crucially, the cloud.