# Qualcomm IM SDK overview The Qualcomm^®^ Intelligent Multimedia SDK (IM SDK) provides Qualcomm hardware-accelerated GStreamer-based plugins for optimized application development and includes reference applications that can be used to develop various use cases. Additionally, Qualcomm packages the compatible versions of AI SDKs, namely, Qualcomm^®^ Neural Processing SDK, Qualcomm^®^ AI Engine direct SDK, and Lite Runtime or LiteRT (formerly known as TensorFlow Lite). ## Architecture The figure shows the various software components of the Qualcomm IM SDK. **Figure : Qualcomm IM SDK software stack** > > > ![code](data:image/png;base64,UklGRogAAABXRUJQVlA4THwAAAAvF8AFEF8QEUrbNoJzhz90KneUDGn+4Ca2bafaZOieBCS8lsEEEuiRkHskIOHnHK69S3IQ0f8JYPvyL+ohhLfMVvB3UdMDCLOyk/WNP/dIrtmMkaCYHG0Y4ZPM1PCNNSNBIZ7GI7nmzFjPenP6Ln9XSw/wltkKyr92CNke) [Qualcomm IM SDK source code](https://github.com/qualcomm/gst-plugins-imsdk) ## Qualcomm IM SDK components The components of the Qualcomm IM SDK are listed as follows: Components of the Qualcomm IM SDK | Components | Description | | --- | --- | | GStreamer plugins | Provides hardware-accelerated GStreamer-based plugins for multimedia functions and image pre- and post-processing utilities required by the AI/ML models. | | Sample applications | Includes C++ and Python GStreamer applications for AI and multimedia use cases. For more information, see [Get started with sample applications](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-55/example-applications.html). | | Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK |

It is also known as the Snapdragon Neural Processing Engine
(SNPE)

It is a software-accelerated runtime for executing deep
neural networks.

SNPE offers tools to convert and quantize neural
networks, and accelerate them on hardware accelerators
including the CPU, GPU, and the Qualcomm^® Hexagon^™ Tensor
Processor.

| | Qualcomm AI Engine Direct SDK |

It provides a unified Qualcomm Neural Network (QNN) API
and tools to accelerate the AI/ML models, 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 supports runtimes such as the Qualcomm Neural Processing
SDK and the LiteRT AI Engine Direct delegate.

| | LiteRT | LiteRT is an open-source deep learning framework
designed for on-device inference. The Qualcomm IM SDK includes delegates
and tools from the compatible LiteRT package. | Note - See [Hardware SoCs](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-115/soc.html) that are supported on Qualcomm Linux. - For information about new features, sample applications, resolved issues, and limitations, see [Qualcomm Intelligent Multimedia SDK (IM SDK) Release Notes](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-52). - This guide isn't applicable for Qualcomm Dragonwing^TM^ IQ-615. ## Run sample applications The Qualcomm IM SDK sample applications show how to use the SDKs and develop end-to-end edge analytics use cases. For more information about the sample applications for Qualcomm Linux, see [Get started with sample applications](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-55/example-applications.html). ## Platform layer The Qualcomm IM SDK supports Qualcomm Linux. For more information about Qualcomm Linux, see [System Software Overview User Guide](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-252/qualcomm-linux-sw-overview.html). ## Development kits The development kits are Qualcomm reference devices built to support Qualcomm Linux. They're used to develop and test software applications. A development kit includes the necessary hardware and interfaces such as sensors, inertial measurement units (IMU), and other peripherals. You can use these development kits to test the capabilities of Qualcomm Linux. For more information, see [Development Kits](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-115/dev-kits.html). ## Supported component versions The current release of the Qualcomm IM SDK integrates the following components: | Components | Version | | --- | --- | | Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK | 2.43.0.260128 | | Qualcomm AI Engine Direct SDK | 2.43.0.260128 | | LiteRT | 2.16.1 | | GStreamer | 1.28.2 | ## Next steps - [Get started with sample applications](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-55/example-applications.html) - [Release notes](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-52/qim-sdk-release-1-6.html) - [Qualcomm Linux system guide](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-252/qualcomm-linux-sw-overview.html) - [Development kits](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-115/dev-kits.html) - [Supported SoCs](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-115/soc.html) > > > Last Published: May 13, 2026 [Previous Topic Qualcomm IM SDK quickstart documentation](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/80-80022-51/topics/qmi-sdk-qsg-landing-page.md) [Next Topic Get started with the Qualcomm IM SDK](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/80-80022-51/topics/install-sdk.md)