# Architecture
Source: [https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70014-51/topic/architecture.html](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70014-51/topic/architecture.html)
The figure shows the various software components within the QIMP SDK.
Figure : QIMP SDK software stack
## Qualcomm Intelligent Multimedia Product (QIMP) SDK
The QIMP SDK integrates specialized components called functional SDKs, which are
listed as follows:
| Functional SDK | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Qualcomm IM SDK | Provides Qualcomm hardware accelerated plugins for optimized
application development. |
| Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK | Qualcomm Neural Processing Engine (also known as Snapdragon
Neural Processing Engine or SNPE) is a software accelerated
runtime for executing deep neural networks. SNPE offers tools to
convert, quantize neural networks and accelerate them on
hardware accelerators including CPU, GPU, and
Qualcomm^®^ Hexagon™ Tensor Processor. |
| Qualcomm AI Engine Direct SDK | Qualcomm AI Engine Direct is a software architecture for
AI/ML use cases on Qualcomm chipsets and AI acceleration cores.
It provides a unified API and modular and extensible
per-accelerator libraries, which form a reusable basis for
full-stack AI solutions. It provides support for runtimes such
as Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK and TensorFlow Lite AI Engine
Direct Delegate. |
**TensorFlow Lite Runtime**
TensorFlow Lite models can be executed natively on Qualcomm hardware with
acceleration using the following delegates:
| Delegate | Acceleration |
| --- | --- |
| AI Engine Direct Delegate (QNN Delegate) | CPU, GPU, and Hexagon Tensor Processor |
| XNNPack Delegate | CPU |
| GPU Delegate | GPU |
**Sample applications**
The QIMP SDK sample applications demonstrate how to use the SDKs and develop
end-to-end Edge analytics use cases. For more information, see [Sample applications](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70014-50/example-applications.html).
## Qualcomm Linux distribution
The QIMP SDK is supported on the Qualcomm Linux distribution. For more information,
see [Software Overview](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70014-115/overview.html).
## Development Kits
Development Kits are reference hardware built on the Qualcomm chipset platform. They
are used by application developers for software development and testing specific to
that chipset. A Development Kit includes necessary hardware and interfaces, such as
sensors, IMUs, and other peripherals. These can be used to test the capabilities of
the Qualcomm platform. This guide refers to the [Qualcomm RB3 Gen 2 Development Kit
Guide](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70014-251/introduction.html).
## Supported component versions
The current release of the QIMP SDK integrates the following components:
| Components | Version |
| --- | --- |
| Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK | 2.22.0.240425 |
| Qualcomm AI Engine Direct SDK | 2.22.0.240425 |
| TensorFlow Lite Runtime | 2.15.1 |
| GStreamer | 1.20.4 |
## QIMP eSDK
The eSDK is an installer generated from the Qualcomm Linux platform image. It
provides a complete Yocto environment that allows you to synchronize, modify,
compile, and install applications and open-source plugins.
The eSDK uses the [devtool](https://docs.yoctoproject.org/ref-manual/devtool-reference.html) mechanism of Yocto Project to
download, compile, and install reference applications and plugins.
The following image shows the components that are packed as part of the QIMP eSDK.
Figure : QIMP eSDK
Last Published: Nov 05, 2025
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