HarmonyOS NEXT

Developer	Huawei
Written in	C, C++, JS, ArkTS, Cangjie,[1] Rust, Assembly language
OS family	OpenHarmony Oniro OS
Working state	Current
Source model	Closed, with open source components
Initial release	August 4, 2023; 10 months ago (2023-08-04)
Latest preview	HarmonyOS NEXT (5.0/5.0.0) Developer Beta [External Beta] (5.0.0.25 - Beta1) / (June 21, 2024; 3 days ago (2024-06-21))
Marketing target	Embedded systems, Internet of Things, Internet of vehicles, Edge computing, wireless routers, smartphones, tablet computers, smart TVs, smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart speakers, personal computers, Laptops, mixed reality headsets, virtual reality headsets, wireless earbuds, wireless headphones, wearable devices, augmented reality headsets, smart printers, interactive whiteboards, E-readers, cars, smart homes, enterprise, industry, Consumer electronics
Update method	Over-the-air
Package manager	.app
Platforms	64-bit ARM, RISC-V, x86, x64, LingxiISA
Kernel type	Kernel subsystem: HarmonyOS kernel (Microkernel)
Userland	System Service Layer, OpenHarmony, Oniro OS app framework user modes on HarmonyOS NEXT system [2]
Influenced by	Android (EMUI), Apple OSes (GUI), Deepin, EulerOS (Desktop), LiteOS, Genode, HelenOS, iTrustee (TEE) (kernel), Minix, HarmonyOS, OpenHarmony, Oniro OS, Webinos
Default user interface	HarmonyOS Design (Design System) (multi-touch, GUI)
License	Commercial software, Proprietary software except for open-source components
Preceded by	LiteOS, EMUI, Android and Microsoft Windows
Official website	developer.huawei.com/consumer/cn/next
Support status
Supported
Articles in the series
HarmonyOS version history

HarmonyOS NEXT (Chinese: 鸿蒙星河版; pinyin: Hóngméng Xīnghébǎn) is a proprietary distributed operating system and an iteration of HarmonyOS, developed by Huawei to support only HarmonyOS native apps. The operating system base is primarily aimed at software and hardware developers that deal directly with Huawei. It does not include Android's AOSP core and is incompatible with Android applications.^[3][4]

While on the one hand discarding the common Unix-like Linux kernel, the NEXT version also replaces the old HarmonyOS multikernel for its custom unified proprietary system built on OpenHarmony and global variant Oniro OS for global markets.^[5] The rich execution environment (REE) version of HarmonyOS microkernel is placed at its core with a single framework as kernel mode; also the new kernel architecture built on OpenHarmony and its kernel abstraction layer as user mode, which the OS itself shares lineage with lightweight LiteOS real time operating system for resource-constrained devices like smart wearables and IoT across all smart Embedded products.^[6]

The first internal preview version of the system was revealed on August 4, 2023, and the first preview version was released to registered public developers on January 18, 2024.^[4]

The devices tested on the developer preview version of the system were the Mate 60, Mate 60 Pro, and Mate X5 phones in the first batch.^[7]

History

On August 4, 2023, at Huawei Developers Conference 2023 (HDC), Huawei officially announced HarmonyOS NEXT, the next version of HarmonyOS, supporting only native APP apps via Ark Compiler and native APIs in HarmonyOS SDK.^[8]

The kernel of HarmonyOS NEXT does not include the compatibility layer of AOSP framework with Android libraries from EMUI in the user space and cannot run Android apk apps natively, as is the case with the dual framework HarmonyOS.^[9][10]

On August 4, 2023, the developer preview version of HarmonyOS NEXT was opened for cooperating enterprise developers, and on January 18, 2024, to the rest of developers to build and test native mobile apps. The beta version was expected to be launched in Q2 2024, and the commercial version to be made available in Q4 2024. It has been revealed by Huawei that HarmonyOS NEXT system stack development goes back as far as 2015 after R&D incubation of HarmonyOS development in 2012.^[11][12]

Software version history

HarmonyOS Galaxy Edition (Star River) [5.0.0] (API version 12)

August 4, 2023 (API 9) Developer Preview 1 for HarmonyOS NEXT internal cooperative developers, for native software development. January 2024 Developer Preview 1 Beta for public registered developers (API 10), Developer Preview 2 (API 11–12), Q2 Beta (API 12), and Commercial (API 12) stable builds:

At the HarmonyOS Developer event in China, Huawei announced that the developer preview version of Harmony Next, the third generation of HarmonyOS operating system based on OpenHarmony L0-L2 branch source code, was open for application development, alongside the release of the beta version to enterprise developers on January 18, 2024. The beta version of HarmonyOS Next will be launched in Q2 of 2024 to all unregistered public developers, while a commercial version on specific devices will be released to all users in Q4 of 2024.

Software architecture and framework features

• Native refinement of the system, application, fluency, security, intelligence, and native interconnection.
• Full-stack, self-developed HarmonyOS NEXT core operating system integrated that includes:
  • Native AI LLM model: PanGu-Σ
  • Native Generative AI framework: MindSpore
  • Native Integrated Development Environment: DevEco Studio IDE and DevEco Testing
  • Native Design system: HarmonyOS Design
  • Native Programming framework: ArkUI / ArkUI-X(Cross Platform)
  • Native Compiler & Runtime: Ark Compiler, BiSheng Compiler and Ark Runtime
  • Native File system: EROFS/HMDFS distributed file system
• Native in-house Cangjie programming language alongside ArkTS as primary programming languages support for native HarmonyOS system and kernel
• AOSP system and Linux kernel of EMUI system userland on System Service Layer removed from native compatibility on phones and tablets alongside some other devices via native OpenHarmony user mode.
• Primary HarmonyOS native app file package, APP for HarmonyOS apps only
• Native Package management subsystem^[13]
• Refined and primary native in-house Ark Engine multimedia API graphics stack system that comes with ArkGraphics 2D and ArkGraphics 3D with Cangjie support across all devices with developer access^[14]
• Linux and LiteOS RTOS base on wearables, phones, tablets on System Service Layer replaced with self-developed REE version of HarmonyOS kernel, Microkernel architecture.^[15]
• API 10, 11 features bundled
• New API 12 features
• HarmonyOS NEXT SDK with previous classic HarmonyOS SDK API levels, alongside full standard OpenHarmony SDK development kit access support conglomerated in a complete and comprehensive in-house HarmonyOS SDK API 12, in a form of full development kit.
• PC mode when keyboard used on MatePads and phone docked
• Native PC support
• Native HarmonyOS API apps adapted to PC support
• Native Generative Edge AI computing API system features for Edge Computing
• Native Generative AI and Multimodal learning LLM Voice Assistant Celia/XiaoYi [China & Global] - Powered by Huawei Pangu AI model, supports Chinese and English with Celia Proactive Suggestions and Developers can add Celia Voice services to their atomic services improvements and applications.
• Native device-side AI support for training interface and ArkTS interface for NNRt (Neural Network Runtime) backend configurations via MindSpore framework
• OpenHarmony versioning core baseline of HarmonyOS NEXT system versioning underlining the HarmonyOS operating system baseline versioning
• OpenHarmony user mode contains the kernel abstract layer that wraps the Linux syscall compatible layer via POSIX compatible, third-party musl from LiteOS lineage for HarmonyOS NEXT system kernel, in-house Microkernel.
• OpenHarmony Device Connector (HDC) native support, a command line tool for connecting and debugging HarmonyOS devices as well as OpenHarmony devices in interoperability, including self debugging on PC-side with native toolchain system.^[16] Replaces Android Debug Bridge on classic dual-framework OpenHarmony L3-L5 based EMUI and HarmonyOS AOSP userland base.^[17]
• Exclusive to in-house Kirin and HiSilicon chips optimisation and adaptation alongside selected Snapdragon legacy chips
• New visual graphical interfaces based on Neumorphism and Glassmorphism design language trend, visual elements on HarmonyOS Design language system for Spatial computing
• New Control Panel interface.
• New and refined notification and lockscreen interface.
• New volume control design.
• New native File and Photos picker app and interface.
• New bundled HarmonyOS native system apps.
• Native HarmonyOS settings app and OTA system
• Modified native Task Switcher interface for PC, phones, tablets and foldables
• Native smart app background and foreground management system
• Live Window UX improvements and developer APIs kit support for native third-party HarmonyOS apps
• Native developer and app kits support
• ArkData powered by GaussDB for ArkTS HarmonyOS native development
• New native AppGallery app designed for installation of native HarmonyOS apps only.
• WebView component based on the ArkWeb software engine.^[18]
• Next generation NearLink 2.0 support
• Native HMS Core integration
• New Permission application system with Capability-based security-like REE kernel features, alongside native OpenHarmony-based Access token manager^[19] implements unified app permission management on Core File Kit, departure from previous versions of HarmonyOS with AOSP framework^[20]
• Advanced native multitasking and Task switching system
• Native Push API system
• Continuity of applications between devices via native Distributed Package Management Service (DBMS) from Distribution Service Kit API.^[21]
• Spatial computing support^[22]
• Native Spatial Audio support in Audio Kit API^[23]

HarmonyOS NEXT compiled versions of its software versions in software development since August 4, 2023.