Feature Overview
Upgrades | New Features/ productization | POC/Spec Release |
|---|---|---|
Applications YouTube (Version TBD) AVPK 6.x Alexa Xapp (Post RDK8) Googlecast (Post RDK8) Application Firebolt DAC2 SDK WPEWebKit 2.46 (Post RDK8) Thunder Framework 5.1 (Post RDK8) Kernel 6.1 SOC SDK Upgrades Hardware Porting Kit Security (Post RDK8) | Multiview (Post RDK8) Vulkan Graphics Application Launcher Native Script Network Manager RIALTO Edge AI (Post RDK8) Secure Storage HAL (Post RDK8) | Connected Home BLE Streaming/auracast (Post RDK8) Virtual Device AVHAL Spec AIDL |
RDK8 Features
RDK8 MVP List
| # | Feature | Current Status | ETA | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | App Manager support (Including Ralf and rdk-window-manager) | In Progress | Q1 2026 | |
| RDK Resource Monitor | In Progress | Q1 2026 | ||
| 2 | Application Bundles - DAC Bundles for Native Apps with Launcher | In Progress | Q1 2026 | |
| 3 | Containerized Browser Runtime with Launcher with firebolt Lifecycle 2.0 | In Progress | Q1 2026 | |
| 4 | RDK Reference UI upgrades | In Progress | Q1 2026 | |
| 5 | Graphics upgrade - Vulkan Support | Done | Q3 2025 | |
| 6 | Platform Upgrades (Primary device) | In Progress | Q1 2026 | |
| 7 | Kernel Upgrade 6.1 Kernel | In Progress | Q1 2026 |
RDK8 MVP detailed update with status
| # | Feature | Business Requirements/why this feature is needed? | RDK Ticket | MVP | Released/Available | Dependencies | SoC/OEM/App Partner ETA | Code Readiness | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | RDK Application Managers Launcher | This new launcher includes a set of new managers who handle launch, lifecycle, package, storage, and window management. | Yes | No, Q1 2026 | Open sourcing window manager | NA | 2025 Q3 | ||
RDK Resource manager | resource management function that reserves and releases platform resources for applications. | Yes | No, Q1 2026 | ||||||
6 | Memcr - Appmanager integration | Reducing the physical memory required for the RDK software to function helps to decrease the production cost of RDK Device hardware | Yes | No, Q1 2026 | Launcher integration | ||||
9 | Binary-compatible browser runtime with launcher | towards a binary-compatible browser runtime that is separately downloadable and features a binary-compatible web engine. | Yes | No, Q1 2026 | Lifecycle - | ||||
17 | DAC Firebolt DAC SDK - DAC bundles | Design and deliver a "certification-ready" premium-tier native app that adheres to these specifications and is fully compatible with the RDK ecosystem. | Yes | No, Q1 2026 | GPU Layer ralf open sourcing | ||||
DAC Server Selection | Provide a reference implementation to dynamically select the Application server. | Yes | No, Q1 2026 | GPU Layer ralf open sourcing | |||||
8 | Browser Webkit 2.46 | Keep app platform up to date Support the latest WPE browser features | TBD | No, Q1 2026 | WPE pagelifecycle | ||||
16 | RDK Reference UI | Reference implementation for Firebolt Spec based RDK UI, Performance improvement and improved customer experience for better scale. | Yes | No, Q1 2026 | |||||
2 | Vulkan | Performance improvement and improved customer experience for better scale. | Yes | Yes, Q3 2025 | |||||
11 | Subtec | Create a clean build, reduce maintenance costs. | TBD | No, Q4 2025 | Player refactoring | ||||
3 | Widevine Support for Native apps | Widevine support is an add-on for the apps that utilize any other encryption currently available. | Yes | Yes, Q3 2025 | Widevine license for RTK | Validation pending in RTK 1325, BCM 72116 Update DTID for Amazon to make this default | |||
4 | RIALTO - AAMP | Direct application access to hardware resources is prevented | NO |
| |||||
5 | Native Script | Lightweight JavaScript runtime to launch integrated video players in a small memory footprint environment and have speedy launch times. | NO | Yes, Q3 2025 | |||||
7 | Multiview | Offering multiview enhances the viewing experience by allowing subscribers to watch multiple streams simultaneously, which increases engagement and satisfaction. | No | TBD | |||||
10 | Thunder 5.1 | No | Q4 2025 | ||||||
12 | Network Manager Integration | Gnome based networkmanager integration | Yes | Yes, Q3 2025 | Productization of Gnome network manager which is beta in RDK7 | ||||
12 | Connected Home TV | IOT stack integrated and released with RDK Reference devices. | No | ||||||
13 | Google Cast | Google Cast enables users to stream content from various supported devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, to a compatible TV or STB. | No | ||||||
14 | Auracast / BLE Streaming | No | POC | ||||||
15 | Edge AI Integration | No | Working group | ||||||
18 | Alexa Xapp | Certified Alexa integration is required for retail and operator (Specific) managed device deployments. | No | ||||||
19 | YouTube (Chrobalt/Cobalt) | Yes | No, Q1 2026 | ||||||
20 | Amazon AVPK | RDKVREL-398 | Yes | No, Q1 2026 | |||||
20 | Kernel 6.1ACK Mixed-Mode | Yes | Yes, Q3 2025, new platforms | ||||||
21 | SOC Alignment | No | |||||||
22 | SDK upgrade | Yes | Yes, Q3 2025 | New SDK for BCM expected in Q1 | |||||
23 | HAL upgrades - Hardware Porting Kit | Yes | No, Q1 2026 | ||||||
24 | Platform Upgrades | Yes | TBD | ||||||
25 | OSS consumption re-architecting | No | Q4 2025 | ||||||
26 | OSS Optimizations | No | |||||||
27 | MVP – Specification Document | No | |||||||
28 | Secure storage common hal implementation | No | |||||||
29 | Security Spec | No | Security working group | ||||||
30 | RDKE OSS layer release | Simplify & focus on IP based Entertainment platforms, with broadcast features as options Increased need for rapid innovate at pace to deliver new (IOT connected) hardware and advanced features. Competition & market conditions require a step change in platform scaling costs, and standardized application support | Yes | Q1 2026 | BAU | ||||
31 | RDKE Vendor layer release | Yes | Q1 2026 | ||||||
32 | RDKE middleware layer release | Yes | Q1 2026 | ||||||
33 | RDKE Applications layer release | Yes | Q1 2026 | ||||||
34 | RDKE Image Assembler Release | Yes | Q1 2026 |
Detailed Updates
| # | Feature | SubComponents / Spec / Feature list | Status | Source Code references | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | App Manager support | FireboltAppGateway | Implementation in progress | https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/RDKEMW-9458/AppGateway | |
| AppManager | Done | https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/AppManager | |||
| LifecycleManager | Done | https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/LifecycleManager | |||
| RuntimeManager | Spike Completed, Integration Inprogress | https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/RuntimeManager | RALF pack to be integrated 4 layer bundlegeneration PoC to be integrated | ||
| WindowManager | OpenSourcing in progress | https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/wiki/Window-Manager https://github.com/rdk-e/rdk-window-manager https://github.com/rdk-e/rdkservices-cpc/tree/develop/RDKWindowManager | |||
| PackageManager | Inprogress | https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/PackageManager | RALF pack to be integrated | ||
| DownloadManager | Done | https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/DownloadManager | |||
| Libpackager | Inprogress | RALF pack to be integrated | |||
| Package manager will have to support mounting of dm-verity ralf packages | TBD | to be discuss in the working group for owner | |||
| StorageManager | Done | https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/StorageManager | |||
| RialtoServerManager | Implementation in Progress (POC?) | https://github.com/rdkcentral/rialto https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/blob/develop/RuntimeManager/RialtoConnector.cpp | |||
| OCIContainer | Done | https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/OCIContainer | |||
| ResourceManager | Spec in Progress | ||||
| SceneSet | Done | https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/SceneSet | |||
| Pre-install-manager | Done | https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/PreinstallManager | Unable to test until the RALF pack is integrated | ||
| Recipes for installing the Reference UI | In Progress | ||||
| Ralf Utils (CPE) | Open-sourcing in progress | https://github.com/rdkcentral/ralf-utils | |||
| 2 | App SDK | Firebolt Application DAC2.0 SDK (SoC agnostic App SDK for binary compatible apps) | In Progress. 0.1.0 release | Firebolt App SDK related repositories currently available, suite of bolt-tools and repositories | |
| bolt App SDK (yocto version) | 0.1.0 version released | https://github.com/rdkcentral/meta-bolt-distro/blob/develop/README.md | Next work items to be refined and prioritized | ||
| base-layer | 0.1.0 version released | https://github.com/rdkcentral/meta-bolt-distro?tab=readme-ov-file#building-the-base-bolt-package base layer context https://github.com/rdkcentral/meta-bolt-distro/blob/develop/meta-bolt-base/recipes-core/packagegroups/packagegroup-app-base-layer-rdke-profile1.bb | Content of base layer agreed in Tiger team App SDK (Native App WG.) requesting for formal review and acceptance TODO : add vulkan stubs to it | ||
| example applications and runtimes | available (more migratable from DAC1.0 SDK ) | https://github.com/rdkcentral/meta-bolt-distro/tree/develop/meta-bolt-app-examples wpe and cobalt as runtime and youtube url/app (wpe and cobalt with tempory launchers and no FB lifecycle support yet) | able to build and run on STB with bolt-tools via CLI. To install and run via UI and MW we need ralf libpackage and 4 layer bundlegeneration in runtimemgr | ||
| security review | not started | ||||
| PC emulator | not MVP | ||||
| 3 | App standards and interfaces, key specs & enablers | App Package format : RALF (Rdk Application Layer Format) aka bolt format (towards STB, not towards firebolt connect) associated Package Metadata spec | partially done | ralf -u unsigned oci artifact: https://github.com/rdkcentral/oci-package-spec/blob/main/format.md Package Metdata spec https://github.com/rdkcentral/oci-package-spec/blob/main/metadata.md incl config override mechanism ralf -s signed, NEED TO SPEC, available in ralf code ralf - e signed and encrypted, not needed for Comcast, MVP for Liberty-Infosys ? | |
Firebolt App Lifecycle 2.0 model for Native App and Runtime JSON-rpc api and C++ API | model and api defined. Implementation in progress, | Lifecycle Model & API finalized on 2025Nov21 see App Lifecycle 2.0#Statesandexplanation Lifecycle2 API see row 21-26, Presentation focused row 31, OnNavigateTo of RDK8 Firebolt® API Specification | Needs to be well documented Oscar Uitenbroek promised to arrange this with tech writer | ||
| RDK-8 Firebolt core API | defined, proper documentation required | defined in RDK8 Firebolt® API Specification | Needs to be well documented Oscar Uitenbroek promised to arrange this with tech writer | ||
| Firebolt API's required for native apps | gap | Lot of discussions and API documents created during 2024 and 2025 but we have not formally agreed. Prio for Q1 2026 for LG-Infosys | |||
| Firebolt API C++ client library | version 0.2 Implementation in Progress | firebolt-cpp-client.bb transport | |||
| GPU layer made available through vendor layer | Implementation in Progress | spec proposal agreed in GPU layer proposal | To Do : add vulkan to spec | ||
| |||||
| Dial Integration flow for bolts | design to be started | first discussion held | |||
| DAC 2.0 configuration for apps | Implementation in Progress | ||||
| Design and Spec for App logging (and how it crosses from AppContainer to operator & appdeveloper (Firebolt logging) | design to be started | ||||
| Telemetry reporting from Firebolt N Applications | |||||
| Firebolt iCrypto API | Not Started | ||||
Application environment spec | action on Vaisakh Anand see email | ||||
Cobalt - configuration requirements | Implementation in progress | ||||
Prime Video - configuration requirements | Spec in progress | ||||
| Netflix - configuration requirements | Not started | ||||
| Bolt Tool (RalfPack) - Cloud | Open-sourcing in progress | https://github.com/rdkcentral/ralfpack | |||
| 4 | RDK-VA reference only | Proprietary per operator, need this defined for UI and Cloud setup associated with RDK Video Accelerator allowing proper functional UI on VA for App browsing installing and running of both binary compatible firebolt native apps ( bolts) and WebApps (both with target to become ingested through Firebolt Connect) | |||
| RDK-VA AppCatalog API (including app catalogue and package distribution) | PoC and implementation | RDK Reference App Store PoC API | Need to review proposed API | ||
RDK-VA UI to use new AppCatalog API and UI to browse AppCatalog to be ableto install Applications and required bolt package dependencies RDK-VA UI-spec for browsing will stay the same ? see Accelerator Home UI - v5#AppsScreen | |||||
RDK-VA UI to use new AppManagers API (iso RDKshell) to start/stop applications installed | |||||
Process for launching Reference UI on STB startup (design) RDK-VA UI to have preinstalled bolt packages (VA UI, wpe, base) to go through First Time Install - If update of those packages is available on cloud, user must be able to update these | |||||
Other integration points : participation in DIAL flow, ... | |||||
| 5 | Containerized Browser Runtime with Launcher with firebolt Lifecycle 2.0 | WPE WebKit - configuration requirements | Spec in progress | ||
| Browser lifecycle | Spec in progress | ||||
| 5 | Graphics upgrade - Vulkan Support | Vulkan graphics upgrade | Done | ||
| 6 | Subtec | Subtec component integration RDK stack | In progress | Subtec player integration is not planned in RDK8 | |
| 7 | Platform Upgrades (Primary device) | Broadcom, Amlogic and Realtek STB devices | In progress | ||
| 8 | Kernel Upgrade 6.1 Kernel | In Progress | In progress |
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