This archive report was first published on 9 August 2019.
On August 9, 2019, Huawei unveiled HarmonyOS, a new open-source operating system that aims to revolutionize the way we interact with devices. According to Huawei, the company has been envisioning a future where intelligence seamlessly integrates with all aspects of our lives for the past decade.
HarmonyOS 1.0 will initially be adopted in Huawei's smart screen products, which are set to launch later this year. Over the next three years, the operating system will be optimized and gradually adopted across a broader range of smart devices, including wearables and head units for cars.
Key Features of HarmonyOS ¶
- Seamless: HarmonyOS features a distributed architecture, delivering a seamless experience across devices.
- Smooth: The operating system addresses underperformance challenges with a Deterministic Latency Engine and high-performance Inter Process Communication (IPC).
- Secure: HarmonyOS uses a brand-new microkernel design that features enhanced security and low latency.
- Unified: Powered by a multi-device IDE, multi-language unified compilation, and a distributed architecture kit, HarmonyOS can automatically adapt to different screen layout controls and interactions.
HarmonyOS's distributed architecture and virtual bus technology enable a shared communications platform, distributed data management, and virtual peripherals. This allows app developers to focus on their own individual service logic, making it easier to develop distributed apps.
The Deterministic Latency Engine in HarmonyOS sets task execution priorities and time limits for scheduling in advance, reducing response latency by 25.7%. The microkernel can also make IPC performance up to five times more efficient than existing systems.
HarmonyOS's microkernel design uses formal verification methods to reshape security and trustworthiness from the ground up in a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE). This significantly improves security and reduces the probability of attack.
