# 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.
**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/80-80022-251/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/80-80022-251/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/80-80022-251/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/80-80022-51/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/80-80022-253/run-sample-apps-qdemo.html).
## Download and install standard SDK
After upgrading the development kit to the latest Qualcomm Linux software, download the corresponding standard SDK.
This release supports separate standard SDKs 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 standard SDK 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/80-80022-41/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
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git config --global user.email
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**Procedure**
1. Download the standard SDK from [Qualcomm public
archive](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/ui/native/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/qimpsdk/).
1. Make directory:
mkdir
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2. Change directory:
cd
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3. Download the zipped file:
| **x86** | wget [https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/artifactory/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/qcom-armv8a/x86-qli-2.0-rc3-standardsdk.zip](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/artifactory/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/qcom-armv8a/x86-qli-2.0-rc3-standardsdk.zip) |
| --- | --- |
| **Arm** | wget [https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/artifactory/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/qcom-armv8a/arm-qli-2.0-rc3-standardsdk.zip](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/artifactory/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/meta-qcom/qcom-armv8a/arm-qli-2.0-rc3-standardsdk.zip) |
4. Unzip the Qualcomm IM SDK to a directory of your choice:
unzip x86-qli-2.0-rc3-standardsdk.zip
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unzip arm-qli-2.0-rc3-standardsdk.zip
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5. Ensure that the standard SDK installer is at `//images/qcom-armv8a/sdk`.
The following screenshot is provided as an example; the version numbers may differ from those in your installation.
6. If you don't have the required write permissions to install the
standard SDK 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
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2. To install the standard SDK, run the installer script from `//images/qcom-armv8a/sdk`:
chmod 777 qcom-distro-x86_64-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-armv8a-qcom-armv8a-toolchain-2.0.sh
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For example:
sh ./qcom-distro-x86\_64-qcom-multimedia-proprietary-image-armv8a-qcom-armv8a-toolchain-2.0.sh
3. To install the standard SDK in your host machine, follow the instructions on the console:
- On the console, you will be prompted to specify the directory path for the standard SDK installation. If you accept the default path, the standard SDK 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/Standard_SDK_plus_QIM`, the standard SDK will be installed in that directory.
Note
If packages such as diffstat, gawk, and gcc, are missing during the standard SDK installation, install all the dependencies mentioned in
[Build from source](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-254/build_from_source_github_intro.html).
4. Set up the `SDK_ROOT` variable.
export SDK_ROOT=
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For example:
export SDK\_ROOT=/local/mnt/workspace/Standard\_SDK\_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/80-80022-51/topic/content-develop-your-first-application.html#content-develop-your-first-application).
## Next steps
- [Qualcomm IM SDK overview](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-51/topic/introduction.html#introduction)
- [Build multimedia applications](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-51/topic/application-development.html#application-development)
- [Run sample applications](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-253/run-sample-apps-qdemo.html)
- [Set up virtual machine](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-41/vm-landing-page.html)
- [Qualcomm public archive](https://artifacts.codelinaro.org/ui/native/qli-ci/flashable-binaries/qimpsdk/)
- [Create a sample application](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-51/topic/content-develop-your-first-application.html#content-develop-your-first-application)
Last Published: May 13, 2026
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