DevEco Studio

DevEco Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Huawei's HarmonyOS operating system, built on JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA software and formerly Huawei's SmartAssist designed specifically for HarmonyOS development built by Huawei. It is available for download on Microsoft Windows and macOS based operating systems.

History
DevEco Studio was launched on September 9, 2020, a day before Huawei Developer Conference 2020 (HDC 2020) as the first stable build starting from version 1.0 for Huawei Vision TVs on HarmonyOS 1 and HarmonyOS 2 Beta versions for phones, tablets and watches in app development via Ark Compiler.

DevEco Studio 2.1 was released on June 4, 2021, with cross-device project templates, atomic service development and other features with HarmonyOS 2.0 SDK for HarmonyOS 2 that was launched on June 2, 2021. In July 2021, Huawei launched sdkmgr, a new HarmonyOS SDK management tool.

On July 8, 2022, after the following release of DevEco Studio 3.0 Beta 4 JS/eTS declarative programming development with ArkUI replaced imparative Java development as Huawei's preferred language for HarmonyOS app development since HarmonyOS .hap module of .app file packaged apps don't support Java language on API8 for HarmonyOS 3.0 as Huawei plans to release its own Cangjie programming language in Q4 2024 for HarmonyOS which is equivalent to Google's Kotlin for Android platforms and Apple's Swift for Apple platforms. Java is still supported, as is C++ on older API level versions of the previous versions of HarmonyOS 2.0. The later 3.0 IDE update came with in-house Hvigor build tool developed by Huawei that replaced Java based Gradle on 1.0, which is a newer front-end lightweight construction tool based on TS. Combined with the npm package management mechanism, it mainly provides key capabilities such as task management mechanism, task registration and scheduling, project model management, configuration management, and new command line entry, which is more in line with OpenHarmony and Oniro OS development tools for TS/JS developers that supports OpenHarmony SDK for OpenHarmony applications. Alongside faster UI preview on IDE in event driven app development.

On April 8, 2023, Huawei DevEco Studio rolled out the 3.1 API 9 release version for the developers that contains HarmonyOS 3.1 SDK that debuts the refined eTS language as ArkTS, Huawei's forked TypeScript programming language for more advanced apps, with the new structure of the HarmonyOS App package file format after built and packaged in a stage model. DevEco studio 3.1 was under beta for the past 6 months prior. DevEco Studio 3.1.1 was launched outside China to global markets in January 2024. AOT (Ahead Of Time) compilation on ArkCompiler Toolchain was introduced into DevEco Studio 3.1.1 with HarmonyOS 3.1 SDK and OpenHarmony 3.2 that allows the ability to compile bytecode into machine code that can be run on the target side (i.e., the device running the application) on the host side (i.e., the computer running DevEco Studio) in advance, so that the bytecode can be fully compiled and optimized, and it can be accelerated when it is put on the target side.

Since August 4, 2023, DevEco Studio went through internal changes with HarmonyOS NEXT development based on OpenHarmony, with toolkits, compilers, new structural base for app development taking advantage of the full developer kit with HarmonyOS SDK like OpenHarmony SDK, that contains Enablement Kit that removes Huawei SmartAssist. Alongside DevEco Studio Testing. By October 2023, Huawei internally updated its DevEco Studio 3.2 retooled for HarmonyOS NEXT 3.1 SDK API 9 and 10 to 4.0 Canary builds SDK on internal DevEco Studio 4.1.3 IDE on API 12 for macOS Internal and registered external third-party selected partnered developers in China. January 18, 2024, Huawei announced HarmonyOS NEXT ecology plan for Q2 Beta and Q4 commercialisation with internal shipment of upgraded DevEco Studio. By April 11, 2024, Huawei formally announced a new HarmonyOS NEXT Beta with a new DevEco Studio IDE 5.0 upgrade by June 2024, that was internally upgraded for external developers by April 2, 2024, through rigorous feedback from domestic Chinese developer community and maturity of developer tools.

Previously, the models that could run were and above, that was only be used with emulators and the capabilities were limited. Those toolkits were upgraded to the development preview for devices such as Mate 40 Kirin 990, P50 Snapdragon, Mate 60, Mate 60 Pro and Mate X5 Kirin 9000s powered devices. It is reported that the previous IDE used on version 3.2 of DevEco Studio, use of ArkTS syntax is more matured and 5.0 version of the editor is syntactically rigorous and provides more complete and rich capabilities from API 9 to API 12 upgrade.

On May 9, 2024, at GOSIM 2024 event in the Netherlands, global OpenHarmony, Oniro team of Eclipse Foundation with Huawei engineers is revealed that they are developing Eclipse Theia IDE integration of OpenHarmony-based Oniro OS apps development as well as integrating the base into future DevEco Studio IDE for OpenHarmony and HarmonyOS NEXT-based HarmonyOS development to ensure accessible global OpenHarmony development for global developers and vendors beyond being Chinese-market centric.

On June 21, 2024, Huawei at it's company's annual developer conference, released DevEco Studio NEXT Developer Beta 1 with new major features around software development environment, including AI CodeGenie tool plugin for the IDE used for HarmonyOS NEXT iterative version app development for registered developers in China initial launch wave as a preview.

Features
The following features are provided in the current stable internal version: HarmonyOS DevEco Studio 4.1 previous version released 30, March 2024 on HarmonyOS 3.1 devices and up, ArkTS features, AOT functions, has cross-device project templates, atomic service development and more on support for building TV, smartphones, tablets, watches, routers, IoT devices.

New cross-device engineering template

 * The new version of DevEco Studio comes with new 11 cross-device project templates founded on the original single-device project template. The developer can select the template and device type in sequence for a particular project.
 * Easier to create cross-device projects for the developers, and automatically produce example codes and related supplies.

Support for atomization service development

 * DevEco Studio 2.1 version added the support for atomic service developments to explore its scope in the coming days. Now the process became easier to quickly complete the atomic service project.
 * The developer only has to select the desired project template, perform the coding development process, after that, the code compilation, and at last the debugging test.
 * The project creation menu has several major changes in the latest version. In the current version, developers have to select the project template first, and then select the supported device type.
 * A new “Service” option has been installed in the project type, used in creating an atomic service project.
 * The “Show in Service Center” button will help in finding the service center of the device during creating the atomic project.

Support for router devices

 * After installation of the DevEco Studio 2.1 version, developers can JS language to quickly develop applications that can run on router devices. The new release has a router single device project template to provide support for routers.

As of now, the DevEco Studio provides supports for eight kinds of different mechanisms. It includes smartphones, tablets, automotive machines, smart screens, smart wearables, lightweight smart accessories, smart vision, and routers.

Support Sample Project Import

 * The HarmonyOS sample application is used by the IDE developers for a fast understanding of or application areas of various APIs. It makes easier to create designs and build the application quickly.
 * The new version of this development tool supports sample project import that allows developers to automatically import the sample project into DevEco Studio. Developer can access sample projects codes via the “Import HarmonyOS Sample” button.

A new distributed simulator

 * The DevEco Studio 2.1 has been commissioned with a new distributed simulator with more enhanced functions. It is one of the important remote emulators, which demand login permission in the iteration of each hour. If the session has been expired, it inevitably asks for the re-request/login for the session. This distributed simulator helps the developers to test the distributed functions of an application.

This previous release has been fixed issues that occurred in previous version, also enhanced the existing features.

Enhanced features and fixed issues
Optimize the download of HarmonyOS SDK: When DevEco Studio is installed for the first time, Java SDK, JS SDK, Toolchains, Previewer will be downloaded by default Enhanced application signature capabilities: support for commissioning application automation signatures, and support for storing application signature information through configuration files Java editor capability enhancement: through the integration of HuaweiCloud SmartAssist to provide smarter code completion capabilities Previewer capability enhancement: support XML file preview under qualifier directory, previewer image transmission, real-time preview performance optimization Service Widget enhancement: support card development for Wearable devices, and add multiple card templates Compilation and construction Performance: improve the compilation and construction speed of Hap/App Display Optimisations: improved HiLog log output results, and support filtering Har supports: C++ shared library construction and use.

Once an HarmonyOS app has been compiled with DevEco Studio, it can be published on Huawei AppGallery. Like with Android apps on Android Studio for Huawei's AppGallery, HarmonyOS applications has to be in line with Huawei AppGallery Review Guidelines.

DevEco Service
DevEco Service provides feature-packed cloud service center that allows developers to experience a wide range of development scenarios online, share development resources, and test your applications and services in a comprehensive way, within 24/7 remote laboratory environments. You'll get access to key insights when developing and releasing premium products. It includes the DevEco Marketplace.

DevEco Marketplace
The DevEco Marketplace which was launched on September 25, 2021, that allows developers access to various development resources here including native libraries, third-party libraries, sample codes, and more., which can make app development of Super Device hardware and atomic services easier to implement into native based HarmonyOS apps.

HarmonyOS DevEco Marketplace polymerization a wealth of ecosystem resources development kits, enabling developers to easily obtain the resources needed one-stop, easy to complete the development of Hong Meng-chi of hardware, atomic services, and applications.

The DevEco Marketplace website divides resources into two categories, which are displayed on the following two pages: “Device Components” page: Resource library for device developers, providing release and component package resources. The marketplace includes System Bundles such as a wide array of system capabilities such as kernel, drivers, and service framework bundles. Atomic Services section that includes in typical scenarios which includes security, multimedia, and network atomic services. Project Templates section that includes Application development project templates for Super Device and various devices, covering various typical industry use cases and Code Samples of API code samples and typical scenarios for HarmonyOS apps.

DevEco Testing
DevEco Testing, a test services platform developed by Huawei. It is designed to provide professional test services to partners that are integrating with the HarmonyOS ecosystem. The system has been completely upgraded in order for it to share its professional testing capabilities with its ecosystem partners.

These are some of the services offered by DevEco Testing:


 * Security Testing: The service does security tests on device systems including software and hardware scanning, presenting results and expert advice.
 * Stability Testing: The service does stress tests via smart AI traversal, basic function scenario stress tests, typical problem stress tests which help identify stability issues, providing test reports and fault location logs.
 * Performance and Power Consumption Testing: It mimics real business scenarios, encapsulates hardware feature performance and power consumption into an overall performance power consumption score and monitors real-time performance power consumption data thereby helping in identifying bottlenecks in performance and power consumption among others.
 * Compatibility Testing: It offers multi-dimensional compatibility testing which provides compatibility test reports as well as execution logs helping identify software, hardware and experience compatibility issues before deployment.

DevEco Certification Centre (DECC)
The DevEco Certification Centre (DECC), streamlines the testing process for the HarmonyOS Connect ecosystem. With its comprehensive lineup of certification test suites, partners within the ecosystem can easily run relevant tests and access top-notch certification testing services and laboratories. This streamlined approach enables partners to swiftly and effectively complete all required certification testing.

DevEco Device Tool
The DevEco Device Tool that is an integrated device development environment that allows you to customize HarmonyOS components, compile and program code in few clicks, enables developers to visually debug codes, and integrate distributed features, providing efficient development that is connected with DevEco Studio IDE application component projects.

DevEco CodeGenie
DevEco CodeGenie is a code completion tool that assists users on the latest DevEco Studio NEXT Developer Beta 1 version of the IDE in initial Chinese markets for domestic based developers. The tool is a autocompleting code, and generation as well as universal card generation of native system widgets for the HarmonyOS platform. The tool is currently available in beta, the generative artificial intelligence software was first announced by Huawei on 21 June 2024 at the company's annual developer conference, HDC 2024 that is primarily used for ArkTS programming on native HarmonyOS full fledged app and install-free Meta mini app development.

Version history
The following is a list of DevEco Studio's major releases:

System requirements
These features includes requirements for IDE + HarmonyOS SDK + HarmonyOS Emulator.