Release Dates

Table of contents:

: code tag from Comcast (tick) 

: code freeze from dev side (tick) 

: RC1 release (tick) 

: Code freeze

: RDK8 release

 




Feature Overview

Upgrades 

New Features/ productization

POC/Spec Release

  • Applications
    • YouTube (Cobalt 25)
    • AVPK 6.x
  • Application Firebolt DAC2 SDK
  • Kernel 6.1
  • SOC SDK Upgrades
  • Hardware Porting Kit
  • Vulkan Graphics
  • Application Launcher
  • Network Manager
  • RIALTO  
  • Virtual Device 
  • AVHAL Spec
  • AIDL 




RDK8 MVP List

Feature

Business Requirements/why this feature is needed?

RDK Ticket

RDK Application Managers Launcher

This new launcher includes a set of new managers who handle launch, lifecycle, package, storage, and window management.

RDKVREL-391 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Binary-compatible browser runtime with launcher

towards a binary-compatible browser runtime that is separately downloadable and features a binary-compatible web engine.

RDKVREL-428 - Getting issue details... STATUS

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.

RDKVREL-402 - Getting issue details... STATUS

DAC Server Selection

 Provide a reference implementation to dynamically select the Application server.

RDKVREL-418 - Getting issue details... STATUS

RDK Reference UI

Reference implementation for Firebolt Spec based RDK UI, Performance improvement and improved customer experience for better scale.

RDKVREL-408 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Vulkan

Performance improvement and improved customer experience for better scale.

RDKVREL-384 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Widevine Support for Native apps

Widevine support is an add-on for the apps that utilize any other encryption currently available.

RDKVREL-392 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Network Manager Integration

Gnome based networkmanager integration

RDKVREL-426 - Getting issue details... STATUS

YouTube (Chrobalt/Cobalt)

 

RDKVREL-400 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Amazon AVPK

 

RDKVREL-398 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Kernel 6.1ACK Mixed-Mode

 

RDKVREL-403 - Getting issue details... STATUS

SDK upgrade

 

RDKVREL-421 - Getting issue details... STATUS

HAL upgrades - Hardware Porting Kit

 

RDKVREL-422 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Platform Upgrades

 

RDKVREL-425 - Getting issue details... STATUS

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

RDKVREL-423 - Getting issue details... STATUS

RDKE Vendor layer release


RDKE middleware  layer release


RDKE Applications layer release

RDKVREL-427 - Getting issue details... STATUS

 RDKE Image Assembler Release

RDKVREL-424 - Getting issue details... STATUS




Post RDK8 Feature Overview

Upgrades 

New Features/ productization

POC/Spec Release

  • Applications
    • Alexa Xapp
    • Googlecast
  • WPEWebKit 2.46
  • Thunder Framework 5.1
  • Security
  • Multiview
  • Native Script
  • Edge AI
  • Secure Storage HAL
  • Connected Home 
  • BLE Streaming/auracast





Post RDK8 MVP List

Feature

Business Requirements/why this feature is needed?

RDK Ticket

Remarks

RDK Resource manager

resource management function that reserves and releases platform resources for applications.

RDKECOMREL-437 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Moved out of RDK8 as delivery is possible only by Q1 26 end

Memcr - Appmanager integration

Reducing the physical memory required for the RDK software to function helps to decrease the  production cost of RDK Device hardware

RDKVREL-393 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Moved outof RDK8 as delivery is possible only by Q1 26 end

Browser Webkit 2.46

Keep app platform up to date

Support the latest WPE browser features

RDKVREL-395 - Getting issue details... STATUS

WPE pagelifecycle

Subtec

Create a clean build, reduce maintenance costs.

RDKVREL-390 - Getting issue details... STATUS

Player refactoring

RIALTO - AAMP

Direct application access to hardware resources is prevented

RDKVREL-59 - Getting issue details... STATUS


Native Script

Lightweight JavaScript runtime to launch integrated video players in a small memory footprint environment and have speedy launch times.

RDKVREL-394 - Getting issue details... STATUS


Multiview

Offering multiview enhances the viewing experience by allowing subscribers to watch multiple streams simultaneously, which increases engagement and satisfaction.

RDKVREL-389 - Getting issue details... STATUS


Thunder 5.1

 

RDKVREL-396 - Getting issue details... STATUS


Connected Home TV

IOT stack integrated and released with RDK Reference devices.

RDKVREL-405 - Getting issue details... STATUS


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.

RDKVREL-406


Auracast / BLE Streaming

 

RDKVREL-407

POC

Edge AI Integration

 


Working group 

Alexa Xapp 

Certified Alexa integration is required for retail and operator (Specific) managed device deployments.

RDKVREL-397


SOC Alignment

 

RDKVREL-409


OSS consumption re-architecting

 

RDKVREL-411


OSS Optimizations

 

RDKVREL-410


MVP – Specification Document

 

RDKVREL-415


Secure storage common hal implementation

 

RDKVREL-215


Security Spec

 

RDKVREL-416

Security working group




RDK8 Detailed Updates

#FeatureSubComponents / Spec / Feature listStatusSource Code referencesRemarks
1

App Manager support 

FireboltAppGatewayImplementation in progresshttps://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/RDKEMW-9458/AppGateway


AppManager

Done

https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/AppManager


LifecycleManagerDonehttps://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/LifecycleManager


RuntimeManagerSpike Completed, Integration Inprogresshttps://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




PackageManagerInprogresshttps://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/PackageManagerRALF pack to be integrated


DownloadManager 

Done

https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/DownloadManager


Libpackager

Inprogress

https://github.com/rdkcentral/libpackage

https://github.com/rdkcentral/eshelpers

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


StorageManagerDonehttps://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/StorageManager


RialtoServerManagerImplementation in Progress (POC?)

https://github.com/rdkcentral/rialto

https://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/blob/develop/RuntimeManager/RialtoConnector.cpp




OCIContainerDonehttps://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/OCIContainer


ResourceManager

Spec in Progress





 SceneSetDonehttps://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/SceneSet


 Pre-install-managerDonehttps://github.com/rdkcentral/entservices-infra/tree/develop/PreinstallManagerUnable 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
2App 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


 
3App 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 Firebolt® 8.0 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 Firebolt® 8.0 API Specification

RDK8 Firebolt® JSON-RPC 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

RDK8 Firebolt® Client Libraries Specification

 


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 
4RDK-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, ...




5Containerized Browser Runtime with Launcher with firebolt Lifecycle 2.0WPE WebKit - configuration requirementsSpec in progress



Browser lifecycle Spec in progress

5

Graphics upgrade - Vulkan Support

Vulkan graphics upgradeDone







6Subtec Subtec component integration RDK stackIn progress
Subtec player integration is not planned in RDK8
7Platform Upgrades (Primary device)Broadcom, Amlogic and Realtek STB devices In progress

8Kernel Upgrade 6.1 KernelIn Progress In progress





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