Question
I downloaded DevEco Studio 5.1.0 Release and noticed that, unlike earlier versions, I can no longer switch between HarmonyOS and OpenHarmony SDKs. Since only HarmonyOS SDKs are officially supported for apps published on Huawei AppGallery, how should I proceed with app development using DevEco Studio 5.1.0?
Short Answer
Firstly, let's clarify the difference between OpenHarmony and HarmonyOS.
The HarmonyOS SDK, which you may have seen in earlier versions of DevEco Studio (e.g., 3.x or 4.x), was used for developing apps targeting HarmonyOS 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x. These were primarily for legacy Huawei phones, tablets, and wearables that still included a hybrid Android layer (via AOSP fallback), allowing Android APK compatibility alongside HarmonyOS-specific features.
In contrast, the OpenHarmony SDK available in DevEco Studio 5.1.0 and above reflects the development environment for HarmonyOS. HarmonyOS is the next-generation OS from Huawei, built entirely on OpenHarmony with no Android compatibility. It supports only native applications developed using ArkTS/ArkUI, and targets modern Huawei devices such as phones, tablets, and wearables.
The architecture can be visualized as follows:
─ Harmony Ecosystem
|─ Legacy HarmonyOS SDK
| └─ OpenHarmony
| └─ Android Open Source Project (AOSP fallback)
| └─ Huawei Ecosystem Layer
| └─ HMS Core, AppGallery, Huawei Account Kit, etc.
|─ HarmonyOS SDK (API 10–18)
| └─ OpenHarmony
| └─ Huawei Ecosystem Layer
| └─ HarmonyOS Kits & APIs
| └─ AppGallery (HarmonyOS-native apps)
| └─ Cross-Device Functions, Quick App, etc.
|─ LiteOS
| └─ For lightweight devices (e.g., wearables)
└─ Others...
In the newer versions of DevEco Studio (5.x and above), the HarmonyOS SDK (legacy) has been removed, except for LiteWearable development. This change aligns with Huawei’s strategic direction to shift fully toward HarmonyOS.
Secondly, regarding AppGallery support:
You can currently still publish apps targeting both HarmonyOS (legacy) and HarmonyOS in AppGallery. However, the development process differs:
- If you wish to target existing HarmonyOS devices (such as phones running HarmonyOS 3.x or 4.x that support Android apps), you should use DevEco Studio 4.x and select the appropriate HarmonyOS SDK. This environment supports hybrid development.
- If you plan to develop apps for HarmonyOS devices, you will need to use DevEco Studio 5.x or later. These versions support only native development using OpenHarmony SDKs (API 10–18) and ArkTS-based frameworks. Integration with Huawei services happens via HarmonyOS Kits, which are different from the traditional HMS Core.
Applicable Scenarios
- Developers intending to publish applications to Huawei AppGallery.
- Teams are unsure whether to use HarmonyOS or OpenHarmony SDKs
- Users transitioning from earlier versions of DevEco Studio
Reference Links
You can refer to the official HarmonyOS Developer Documentation for more information on APIs, kits, and application packaging requirements.
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