A Flight-Proven, Multi-Platform, Open-Source Flight Software Framework
F´ (F Prime) is a component-driven framework that enables rapid development and deployment of spaceflight and other embedded software applications. Originally developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, F´ has been successfully deployed on several space applications. It is tailored but not limited to small-scale spaceflight systems such as CubeSats, SmallSats, and instruments.
Please Visit the F´ Website: https://fprime.jpl.nasa.gov for more information.
What does F´ provide
- An architecture that decomposes flight software into discrete components with well-defined interfaces
- A C++ framework that provides core capabilities such as message queues and threads
- Modeling tools for specifying components and connections and automatically generating code
- A growing collection of ready-to-use components
- Testing tools for testing flight software at the unit and integration levels.
Learn more about F´ key features.
System Requirements
The following system requirements apply to your workstation for developing F´ applications. To see the list of supported platforms on which F´ applications can run on, see Supported Platforms.
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Linux, Windows with WSL, or macOS operating system
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Clang or GNU C and C++ compilers (e.g. gcc and g++)
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(Optional) A Rust toolchain (
cargoandrustc) — required only to build components that depend on Rust. Components that requirecargoare skipped when it is not found, and the rest of the framework builds normally.
Click to Expand: How to Verify System Requirements
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git --version -
python --versionandpython -m venv -h. Your system might use an alternate likepython3orpython3.13. For pip:pip --version. On your system it might bepip3orpipx. -
g++ --versionand then create, build, and run a test program. For example, create a file namedhello.cppwith contents:#include <iostream> int main(void){ std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl; }
then build and run it, for example like:
% g++ -o hi hello.cpp % ./hi Hello, World! -
(Optional)
cargo --versionandrustc --version. Only needed to build components that depend on Rust.
Getting Started
To get started with F´, install the F´ bootstrapping tool with:
pip install fprime-bootstrap
Then, create a new project with:
fprime-bootstrap project
See the HelloWorld Tutorial to guide you through all the steps of developing an F´ project.
New users are encouraged to read through the User Manual and explore the other tutorials.
Getting Help
Discussions
To ask questions, discuss improvements, and ask for help please use the project's GitHub Discussions.
Bug reports
To report bugs and issues, open an issue here.
Community
The F´ Community GitHub Organization contains third party contributions, more documentation of flight software development, and additional resources.
Resources
Meet the Team
The following roles are members of the CCB and per our governance document have decision making power within the framework.
| Role | Team Member |
|---|---|
| Community Manager | @LeStarch |
| Community Manager | @thomas-bc |
| Community Manager | @kevin-f-ortega |
| Security Overseer | @bitWarrior |
| CCB Member | @bocchino |
| CCB Member | @kevin-f-ortega |
| CCB Member | @SterlingPeet |
| CCB Member | @timcanham |
| CCB Member | @zimri-leisher |
Each product has a set of Maintainers who are charged with the day-to-day implementation of the CCB's direction as realized in a by product.
| Product | Core Maintainer(s) |
|---|---|
| F Prime | @LeStarch, @thomas-bc |
| F Prime (v3.6.x Maintenance) | @SterlingPeet |
| fprime-tools | @thomas-bc, @LeStarch |
| fprime-gds | @thomas-bc, @LeStarch |
| fpp | @bocchino, @Kronos3 |
| F Prime Platforms | @kevin-f-ortega, @LeStarch |
| Security | @bitWarrior |
Release Notes
The version history and artifacts associated with the project can be found at Releases.