ACAP version 4 vs version 3
There are both similarities and differences between the two generations.
What’s new in ACAP version 4?
- A new SDK tailored to computer vision applications.
- The descendant of ACAP SDK, called ACAP Native SDK, replaces many of the older APIs.
- Introduction of native ACAP applications with containers.
What are the differences between ACAP version 3 SDK and ACAP version 4 Native SDK?
At the time of the ACAP version 4 launch, the two SDKs are very similar, but we’ll actively develop the ACAP version 4 Native SDK while keeping the ACAP version 3 SDK in maintenance mode.
APIs
ACAP version 4 Native SDK does not include all APIs from ACAP version 3. Instead, it aims to replace many of the APIs from ACAP version 3.
| API | Future in ACAP version 4? |
|---|---|
| axHTTP | Replaced by the web-server and web-server-using-fastcgi examples which describe how to achieve the same functionality. |
| axSerialPort | Added to ACAP Native SDK in 1.11 release as Serial Port API. |
| axStorage | Added to ACAP Native SDK in 1.11 release as Edge Storage API. |
| axParameter | Added to ACAP Native SDK in 1.13 release as Parameter API. |
| axAudio | Will get a new API in a later release. |
| axPTZ | Not yet decided, i.e. may be replaced or moved as is to Native SDK. |
| Old Capture API (Media capture) | Will not be moved to Native SDK. |
The complete list of APIs included in the Native SDK is found here.
Container ACAP applications
In ACAP version 4 the possibility to build native ACAP applications (.eap-files) that make use of containers inside has been added. This way, a container application can be installed the same way as any other ACAP version 3 application. See the container example on GitHub.
Which products are supported for applications built with ACAP version 4?
Compatibility depends on many things but one minimum requirement for ACAP version 4 is AXIS OS firmware 10.7. The web page Axis devices and compatibility explains compatibility in more depth.