Symbian platform

Build Symbian ARMv5T and ARMv6 applications with modern C++20, CMake and Ninja on macOS or Linux. The SDK provides native libraries, Python tools, E32/SIS conversion, emulator controls and guest debugging. Applications start at ordinary main() and link CMake library targets; the SDK supplies startup, executable image layout and OS import libraries.

Documentation · Create a project · C++ API · Original Symbian headers

What you can build

The modern runtime, GUI and networking APIs require EKA2. EKA1 does not yet provide those libraries or legacy SIS packaging. TLS requires a secure entropy source for the actual target; the supplied emulator adapter is specific to its patched firmware profile. Camera capture, modern sensor/media APIs, general C++ TLS and thrown C++ exceptions are unsupported. See the capability guide for component requirements.

Firmware and original OS DLL implementations are supplied separately and are not redistributed. An import library describes a system DLL's exports; it does not replace that DLL. Test your application's services and installation policy on its target device before deployment.

Install the host tools

Use Python 3.11–3.14 on macOS 15+ or Linux with glibc 2.28+, on x86_64 or arm64:

python3 -m venv ~/.venvs/symbian
source ~/.venvs/symbian/bin/activate
pip install symbian-platform
symbian doctor

For application builds, also select a native target SDK. The Getting started guide covers that step and keeps a separate path for working from a source checkout.

Work from a source checkout

Use the macOS/Linux prerequisites and host build guide to prepare dependencies. From the checkout:

uv sync
uv run symbian doctor
uv run symbian toolchain probe
uv run symbian sdk install ~/dev/symbian-sdk --workspace "$PWD"
uv run symbian init ~/dev/hello_time --name hello_time --non-interactive
uv run symbian app build --project ~/dev/hello_time

SDK export needs the prepared platform and runtime sources described in the source walkthrough. Once the tools are installed in your environment, invoke symbian directly. To run an application, first import local firmware, then use symbian app run --project ~/dev/hello_time.

The project version comes from VERSION. PyPI provides Python 3.11–3.14 wheels for macOS/Linux on x86_64 and arm64, plus a Python sdist. SDK releases also provide source archives and standalone compiled C++ host SDKs. The host archives contain their static library dependencies and CMake configuration. Native SDK archives also include the compiled ARMv5T/ARMv6 EKA2 libraries, LLVM, resource tools, CMake and Ninja, with a relocatable installed file tree. Install a native distribution to build applications without a source checkout. Native Linux archives require glibc 2.39 or later; firmware and emulator setup remain separate.

Install the compatible emulator separately with symbian emulator install and check it with symbian emulator doctor. Emulator releases have their own versions and can remain installed across compatible SDK upgrades. See emulator installation for offline archives, selection and rollback. Its bundled desktop Qt is separate from the Symbian Qt runtime needed by guest Qt applications.

Examples and guides

Application examples include the native Window Server counter and a guest Symbian Qt button using Qt 4.8.1 supplied by your firmware. They live in examples/; focused ABI, runtime and network diagnostics live in probes/. The probes are runnable examples for checking specific platform contracts, rather than user-oriented apps. The native reference covers SDK symbols and eleven original Symbian headers; symbol descriptions are being expanded with links to hosted platform documentation. New generated descriptions use attribution markers in the reference. Local builds, firmware, private device data, external source checkouts and emulator state stay outside version control.

Community foundations and licensing

This project builds on EKA2L1, SymbianSource, SymbianRevive, A11, LLVM, Abseil and mbedtls-symbian. See community credits for their contributions.

For separately supplied ROMs and firmware, see EKA2L1's Important Links and Delight, the community firmware project. Symbian World collects applications and resources; NNProject develops mobile applications and utilities; the Symbian World Telegram community hosts discussion and support. The curated hstsethi and gauravssnl Awesome Symbian lists link to software, tools and development resources.

Project code is licensed under Apache 2.0. Third-party sources and adaptations retain their original licenses and notices, including the separate GPL-licensed emulator integration and EPL-licensed platform material.