Qt Application Manager

Overview

The application manager binary (appman) is a headless daemon by itself. You need to supply a suitable QML file via the command-line or via a config file at startup, which then acts as a compositing window manager using the APIs that are exported from the C++ side.

For a high-level overview, see Introduction to the Qt Application Manager.

Important topics

Configuration

Configure the application manager through configuration (config) files and the command line.

Containers

Describes an execution environment for an executable.

Installation

Discusses Qt Application Manager installation considerations, such as; support, prerequisites, code coverage data and system setup.

Intents

Discusses the application manager's intent system and its API.

Logging and Debugging

The application manager installs its own message handler to format logging output neatly.

Manifest Definition

Describes the current metadata format for packages.

Package Installation

Discusses the package installation infrastructure.

QtApplicationManager QML module

Qt Application Manager module common to both System UI and applications.

QtApplicationManager.Application QML module

Contains the components and types to use in an application.

QtApplicationManager.SystemUI QML module

Qt Application Manager module for use in a System UI.

Single-Process vs. Multi-Process Mode

Discusses running the System UI and QML applications in two different modes.

The Qt Application Manager

Provides an introduction and overview of Qt Application Manager.

The System UI

Describes the part of a UI which starts and stops any application, on a device

Troubleshooting

Lists possible issues you may encounter while using QtApplicationManager and how to solve them.

Using Qt Resources

Discusses compiling, loading and accesses resources in your program's executable.

What's New

Important changes in Qt Application Manager

Writing Applications

Discusses writing an application to run as a client within the application manager.

Tools

Controller

A command-line utility to remote control the application manager on a target device.

Package-Server

A command-line utility for serve packages for dynamic installation.

Packager

A command-line utility to create and sign application packages.

Reference

Examples

Animated Windows System UI Example

Learn how to animate windows to appear and disappear.

Application Features Example

Showcases client applications with various features and QML modularization.

Bubblewrap Container Example

Learn how to use Bubblewrap Containers with the Application Manager.

Desktop System UI Example

Illustrates a minimal Desktop System UI in pure QML.

Display Frame Rate for the System UI and Applications Example

How to use the FrameTimer to display information about the frame rate.

Display Information about Application Processes Example

How to use ProcessStatus to display application process information.

Implement a Custom Application Manager Example

Provides the basic structure and starting point for a custom application manager executable.

Intents System UI and Applications Example

Three applications and a System UI communicating over Intents.

Launch Applications Using Intents System UI Example

Learn how to use Intents to start applications from the System UI.

Multiple Views per Window System UI Example

Learn how to render a WindowObject using multiple WindowItems.

Package Installation Example

Learn how to implement dynamic package installations and removals.

SoftwareContainer Plugin Example

Learn how to integrate Software Containers with the Application Manager.

System UI Example: "Hello World!"

Learn how to write your first System UI.

Licenses and Attributions

Qt ApplicationManager is available under commercial licenses from The Qt Company. In addition, it is available under the GNU General Public License, version 3. See Qt Licensing for further details.

Executables on Windows potentially link against The QtEntryPoint Library. This library is available under commercial licenses and also under the BSD 3-clause "New" or "Revised" License.

Furthermore, Qt ApplicationManager potentially contains third party modules under following permissive licenses:

StackWalker, version 2020-02-06

BSD 2-clause "Simplified" License

libarchive, version 3.7.2

BSD 2-clause "Simplified" License

libbacktrace, version 2022-07-09

BSD 3-clause "New" or "Revised" License

libdbus, version 1.15.9

Academic Free License v2.1, or GNU General Public License v2.0 or later

libyaml, version 0.2.5

MIT License

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