# Get started with the Qualcomm IM SDK
This section provides instructions on how to start developing your software using the Qualcomm IM SDK.
## Qualcomm IM SDK workflow
>
>
> The figure shows the SDK workflow from setting up the device to developing your first application. For more information, click each component.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> **Figure : Qualcomm IM SDK workflow**
## Prerequisites
>
>
> - Ensure that your development kit has the latest Qualcomm Linux software.
>
>
>
> >
> >
> > [Verify the Qualcomm Linux version](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-251/set_up_the_device.html#verify-the-qualcomm-linux-version). If the system isn’t running the latest software release, [update the software](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-251/upgrade-rb3gen2-software.html).
> >
> >
> > Otherwise, upgrade the development kit by following the steps described in [Set up the device](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-251/set_up_the_device.html).
> - Ensure that you download the matching SDKs to your host machine before starting AI/ML development.
>
>
> The sample applications and AI procedures in this guide are compatible with [Supported component versions](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80021-51/topic/introduction.html#section-xsk-zrn-tcc).
## Explore sample applications
>
>
> You can explore sample applications using the Qdemo application, which is part of the software installation. You can run this GUI-based application directly on the target device without setting up a host.
> For more details, see [Run sample applications](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-253/run-sample-apps-qdemo.html).
## Explore eSDK
>
>
> Run the [sample
> applications](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-50/example-applications.html)
> that are part of the Qualcomm IM SDK package and [GStreamer command-line use cases](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-50/gstreamer-application-use-cases.html)
> to understand the eSDK capabilities.
## Download and install eSDK
>
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> After upgrading the development kit to the latest Qualcomm Linux software, download the corresponding eSDK.
>
>
> This release supports separate eSDKs for the Qualcomm Dragonwing^TM^ RB3 Gen 2 Vision Development Kit, Qualcomm Dragonwing^TM^ RB3 Gen 2 Core Development Kit, Qualcomm Dragonwing^TM^ IQ-9075 Evaluation Kit (EVK), and Qualcomm Dragonwing^TM^ IQ-8275 EVK.
> You can download the eSDK that corresponds to your specific development kit.
>
>
> **Prerequisites**
>
> - An Ubuntu 22.04 host machine with at least 100 GB of free space. To
> set up the virtual machine running Ubuntu 22.04 OS on a Microsoft
> Windows or an Apple^®^ Mac^®^, see [Set Up a Virtual Machine for Qualcomm Linux](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-41/vm-landing-page.html).
> - `sudo` permission to run the commands.
> - Ensure that you configure your Git username and email by running the following commands:
>
>
> git config --global user.name
> Copy to clipboard
>
>
> git config --global user.email
> Copy to clipboard
> - Ensure that all the [system requirements](https://docs.yoctoproject.org/scarthgap/ref-manual/system-requirements.html) are installed on the host.
>
>
>
> **Procedure**
>
> 1. Download the eSDK from [Qualcomm public
> archive](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/ui/native/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/qimpsdk/).
>
> 1. Make directory:
>
>
> mkdir
> Copy to clipboard
> 2. Change directory:
>
>
> cd
> Copy to clipboard
> 3. Download the zipped file:
>
>
>
>
>
>
> | **x86** | [https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/artifactory/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/qcom-armv8a/x86-qli-2.0-rc2-esdk.zip](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/artifactory/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/qcom-armv8a/x86-qli-2.0-rc2-esdk.zip) |
> | --- | --- |
> | **Arm** | [https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/artifactory/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/qcom-armv8a/arm-qli-2.0-rc2-esdk.zip](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/artifactory/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/qcom-armv8a/arm-qli-2.0-rc2-esdk.zip) |
> 4. Unzip the Qualcomm IM SDK to a directory of your choice:
>
>
>
> >
> >
> > unzip x86-qli-2.0-rc2-esdk.zip
> > Copy to clipboard
> >
> >
> > unzip arm-qli-2.0-rc2-esdk.zip
> > Copy to clipboard
> 5. Ensure that the eSDK installer is at `//images/qcom-armv8a/sdk`.
> The following screenshots are provided as examples; file names and version numbers may differ in your installation.
>
>
> 
>
>
> 
> 6. If you don't have the required write permissions to install the
> eSDK in the directory, the installer alerts you and then
> terminates the installation. Ensure that you set up the required
> permissions in the directory and rerun the installer.
>
>
> umask a+rx
> Copy to clipboard
> 2. To install the eSDK, run the installer script from `//images/qcom-armv8a/sdk`:
>
>
> sh ./qcom-distro-aarch64-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-armv8a-qcom-armv8a-toolchain-ext-2.0.sh
> Copy to clipboard
> 3. To install the eSDK in your host machine, follow the instructions on the console:
>
> - On the console, you will be prompted to specify the directory path for the eSDK installation. If you accept the default path, the eSDK will be installed in the user directory, as shown in the following screenshot:
>
> 
> - Alternatively, if you specify a custom path, such as `/local/mnt/workspace/Platform_eSDK_plus_QIM`, the eSDK will be installed in that directory.
>
>
> Note
>
>
> If packages such as diffstat, gawk, and gcc are missing during the eSDK installation, install all the dependencies mentioned in
> [Build from source](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-254/build_from_source_github_intro.html).
> 4. Set up the `ESDK_ROOT` variable.
>
>
> export ESDK_ROOT=
> Copy to clipboard
>
>
> For example:
>
>
> export ESDK\_ROOT=/local/mnt/workspace/Platform\_eSDK\_plus\_QIM
>
>
>
> You have successfully installed the Qualcomm IM SDK. Now, [create a sample application with the Qualcomm IM SDK](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80021-51/topic/content-develop-your-first-application.html#content-develop-your-first-application).
## Next steps
>
>
> - [Qualcomm IM SDK overview](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80021-51/topic/introduction.html#introduction)
> - [Build multimedia applications](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80021-51/topic/application-development.html#application-development)
> - [Run sample applications](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-253/run-sample-apps-qdemo.html)
> - [Set up virtual machine](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-41/vm-landing-page.html)
> - [Qualcomm public archive](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/ui/native/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/qimpsdk/)
> - [System requirements](https://docs.yoctoproject.org/scarthgap/ref-manual/system-requirements.html)
> - [Create a sample application](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80021-51/topic/content-develop-your-first-application.html#content-develop-your-first-application)
Last Published: Mar 16, 2026
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