Products · qdHardware Platform
Our Linux base – keep it simple, run
qdCoreX is the operating system of the qdHardware Platform: Buildroot-based, with a mainline LTS kernel, signed updates and the evidence for CRA and IEC 62304 compliance.
Linux needs looking after
Devices often stay in the field for more than ten years. For that long, the Linux base has to be maintained and receive security updates. We provide it for our hardware platform.
- Chip vendor BSPs go out of date faster than anyone would like
- The CRA requires updates for the entire period of use
- Linux expertise often lies with very few people, who have no time
Structure
A clean split between our base and your software
qdCoreX and your product-specific changes live in separate Buildroot externals. A new qdCoreX release replaces the base, and ideally your code does not need to be touched.
Buildroot
Our preferred build system, pinned to an LTS release.
qdCoreX external
Boot chain maintained by us, with TF-A, OP-TEE and U-Boot, mainline LTS kernel, board support and RAUC.
Your external
Your product-specific changes: application, packages and configuration.
System image
One signed image for production and for updates in the field, for example via qdCloud.
Deliverables
What you get with every release
Image and source code
The released system image and the complete source code it was built from.
SBOM in SPDX format
Every package with version and licence, machine-readable for your technical documentation.
CVE report
Known vulnerabilities per package, with our assessment for the platform.
Licence check
Every release is checked against a licence whitelist.
Signed update
RAUC bundle for A/B updates in the field, with fallback to the last working state.
Release notes
What has changed and what you should check in your external.
Evidence
Documents for your compliance
For your technical documentation
The documents are structured so that they can be adopted directly into this evidence.
- Cyber Resilience Act
- IEC 62304
- IEC 81001-5-1
qdCoreX
Available| Hardware | qdGate, qdSBC |
|---|---|
| Build system | Buildroot, LTS branch 2026.02 |
| Kernel | Mainline LTS, currently the 6.18 line |
| Boot chain | TF-A, OP-TEE, U-Boot |
| Update | RAUC, A/B partitions, signed bundles |
| SBOM | SPDX, with every release |
| Security releases | quarterly; out of cycle for critical vulnerabilities |
| Kernel migration | to the next LTS line before the current one ends |
| Maintenance period | for as long as the hardware is supplied |
Frequent questions
Transparency from the start
Does qdCloud run natively on qdCoreX?
Yes. The service that connects to qdCloud is part of qdCoreX and can simply be selected in Buildroot.
Does qdCoreX run on third-party hardware?
No, that is not intended. qdCoreX is the software part of the qdHardware Platform and is maintained and released for our hardware only.
Why Buildroot and not Yocto?
A Buildroot system is small and easy to oversee: few packages, a short SBOM, a build that a single developer can understand. For a device with a fixed function, that is an advantage. On request, we offer a port to Yocto.
How do our changes get into the system?
Through your own Buildroot external in your repository, included after qdCoreX. The developer area describes the procedure step by step.
Customer-specific changes in the developer areaWhat does qdCoreX cost?
qdCoreX is part of the qdHardware Platform and is not charged separately.
Next
Hardware and documentation
HardwareView qdGateqdGate
The DIN-rail computer for gateway and control tasks. qdCoreX comes preinstalled and is maintained by us.
View qdGate- HardwareView qdSBC
qdSBC
The single-board computer for devices with their own housing and user interface. It runs the same qdCoreX as the qdGate.
View qdSBC - Developer areaView the documentation
Documentation
A step-by-step description of how to check out the source code, build the system and add your own changes.
View the documentation - Source codeView the repository
Source code on GitHub
The Buildroot external tree and the board support for qdGate and qdSBC.
View the repository
Let's talk about your device.
Are you planning a Linux-based device, or do you want to move an existing one onto a maintained platform? Tell us what it has to do – we will tell you how qdCoreX and our hardware fit.
