QNX @ Hack The North

Welcome hackers! QNX is pleased to be meeting so many of you this weekend and to get the chance to show you the power of the QNX 8.0 Operating System in embedded projects. Read on for more information about the QNX challenge, prizes, and the raffle!

This page contains everything you need to get started with QNX this weekend and beyond.

What is QNX? 🛠️
QNX Hackathon Challenges 🏆
Get Hardware For The Weekend! 🥧
Helpful Links 📖
Meet The Team 🙋
QNX at Past Events 📸
Subscriber Raffle! 🎟️

What is QNX? 🛠️

QNX is a powerful, real-time operating system designed for critical applications where reliability and performance are paramount. The QNX 8 OS, in particular, offers advanced features like adaptive partitioning and high availability, making it ideal for industries ranging from automotive to medical devices. Imagine an OS that can handle complex tasks with precision, determinism, and minimal downtime – that's QNX 8.

It's probably under the hood in the car, bus, or train you took today, or powering the streetlights and pedestrian signals you passed on your way here. It's Everywhere.

QNX Hackathon Challenges 🏆

Challenge #1 - Hardware Project

Create a software project using QNX that drives some hardware components.

Prizes

Winning Team: $1000 Amazon Gift Card + QNX Swag Box
Everyone: Your project possibly featured by QNX at gitlab.com/qnx/projects; and, keep your team’s Raspberry Pi 4B kit!

QNX has a limited supply of additional hardware components to loan to teams.

💡

Note for cameras projects: only very specific cameras are supported, such as the Pi Camera Module 3. We have some on hand to loan out.

Thought Prompts

Can you make something that moves and accomplishes a goal?
Can you prototype an industrial control system?
Can you prototype a hardware solution to a real-world problem?
Can you create an entertaining game or physical challenge?

Challenge #2 - Software Focus

Create a software project running on QNX. It can run on a virtual target (QNX OS VM) or Raspberry Pi 4 with QNX OS.

Prizes

Winning Team: $1000 in Amazon Gift Cards + QNX Swag Box
Everyone: Your project possibly featured by QNX at gitlab.com/qnx/projects; and, keep your team’s Raspberry Pi 4B kit if you used one!

Thought Prompts

Can you create a "settings utility" or TUI set up wizard to configure a QNX Raspberry Pi target? (set keyboard layout, hostname, Wi-Fi credentials, display resolution, time zone, etc – see details here)
Can you port an open-source Linux utility or library to QNX and show a running demo?
Can you create an interesting prototype dashboard for industrial control or automation?
Can you create a game or some other useful UI running on QNX? (Available frameworks include QT, GTK, etc, plus core QNX Screen API.)

Get Hardware For The Weekend! 🥧

QNX has a collection of hardware available to borrow for the weekend. See the event organizers at the Hardware Hub to borrow some gear.

Raspberry Pi 4B kits

Kits include power, a video cable, and a micro-SD card with QNX 8.0 preloaded. It's ready to boot up and get started! Here's information about setting it up without a monitor if you're going headless.

Other available hardware

We've brought a limited selection of hardware components to help you create interesting things if you're making a hardware project. These can be borrowed from the Hardware Hub over the weekend as supplies last – please make sure to return them after judging on Sunday!

Some components include:

Trilobot Driving Robot kits w/ built-in sensors
Raspiberry Pi Camera Module 3 (wide and narrow)
LCD screens
Micro-servos
Neopixel RGB LED rings
RGB LED strips
Rotary encoders
DHT22 temp/humidity sensors
LEDs and Buttons
Breadboards, wires, etc.
and more!

Recent, working sample code is available for many of these components (as well as examples for SPI and I2C interfaces) at gitlab.com/qnx/projects.

Helpful Links 📖

Getting Started

These links point you to the things you'll need to get started with QNX development and the QNX OS on Raspberry Pi.

Technical Links

Additional resources to help with your development:

Overall QNX 8.0 Documentation – find guides, tutorials, and references here
List of QNX ports – apps and libraries ported to QNX from Linux
Projects and code samples – including hardware samples for Raspberry Pi!
- Working with a Pi camera? See the camera samples.
- Working with Gemini? See the Gemini samples.
- Want to transfer data to a laptop? See this sample.
- Working with hardware components? See the samples.
Sample apps – the code for the apps included on QNX for Raspberry Pi
The QNX Raspberry Pi Book - Written by the QNX Lead Architect
The QNX Developer Blog – at devblog.qnx.com
Linux Porting Guide – how to port new utilities to QNX

The QNX Job Board

QNX is hiring! Check out the job board for any roles that fit your expertise. Not sure if something is a fit for you? Drop by during the career fair hours and chat with us.

Career Opportunities

Over the past 35 years, QNX software, a subsidiary of BlackBerry has become a big part of everyday life. People encounter QNX-controlled systems whenever they drive, shop, watch TV, use the Internet, or even turn on a light. Its ultra-reliable nature means QNX software is the preferred choice for life-critical systems such as air traffic control systems, surgical equipment, and nuclear power plants. And its cool multimedia features have QNX software turning up in everything from in-dash radios, infotainment systems to the latest casino gaming terminals and most recently we are making headlines in the world of autonomous vehicles. If you want your career to switch gears, then you couldn’t choose a more exciting time to consider joining us! BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) is a trusted security software and services company that provides enterprises and governments with the technology they need to secure the Internet of Things. Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, the company is unwavering in its commitment to safety, cybersecurity and data privacy, and leads in key areas such as artificial intelligence, endpoint security and management, encryption and embedded systems. You couldn’t choose a more exciting time to consider joining us! For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry. ©2025 BlackBerry. All right reserved. BlackBerry® and related trademarks, names, and logos are the property of BlackBerry Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. It is the policy of BlackBerry to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship, status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law. EEO Minorities/Females/Protected Veteran Disabled BlackBerry strives to create an accessible and inclusive application and selection process and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to job applicants who may require provisions to participate in the selection process. Should you require an accommodation, please contact recruitment@blackberry.com or contact our HR department by calling 1-519-888-7465. We will reply to your request as soon as possible. Federal Employment Law Posters: EEO is the Law Employee Polygraph Protection Act FMLA Federal Contractor Postings: E-Verify Right to Work EEO is the Law Supplement Pay Transparency HELPFUL LINKS: Contact Us Application Process Careers FAQ RETURN TO JOB POSTINGS

Meet The Team 🙋

Stop by the QNX table or events to meet some of the QNX team.


Andy Dev Ecosystem	John Dev Relations	Neil QNX Developer	Patrick Product Director	Niraj QNX Developer

Yun Dev Manager	Aaron QNX Developer	Darcy QNX Developer	Terence QNX Developer	Maisam QNX Student

Leo QNX Developer	Michael TPM	Shweta Product Manager