Mer (software distribution)

Mer
Company type	Nonprofit
Industry	Software
Predecessor	MeeGo
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Middleware for Linux kernel–based mobile operating systems
Owner	Community-driven, supported by donations

Mer was an open-source and freely available software distribution designed primarily for hardware manufacturers, functioning as middleware for Linux kernel–based operating systems focused on mobile devices. It originated as a derivative of MeeGo.

Objectives

The principal aims of the project were:

Transparent, open development practices
Architecture tailored for mobile devices
Concentration on mobile hardware producers rather than direct consumers
Offering frameworks, methodologies, and tools to streamline device production
Encouraging innovation within the mobile OS industry
Unifying technologies and initiatives including MeeGo, Tizen, Qt, Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL), and HTML5
Governance founded on meritocratic principles
Operating as a nonprofit entity supported by donations

Software structure

Mer is not classified as a complete operating system but functions as a foundational layer built atop the Linux kernel, sitting between the kernel itself and the graphical user interface (GUI).

It delivers the core functionalities similar to those in MeeGo, while graphical interfaces and hardware-specific adaptations are managed by separate initiatives and device manufacturers building upon Mer.

Elements

Mer incorporates support for systemd, Wayland, Hybris, among other contemporary FOSS components.

The Zephyr project focuses on creating lightweight, efficient next-generation user interfaces based on Mer combined with Qt5, QML Compositor, and Wayland.

Weston version 1.3 includes libhybris support, allowing Android device drivers to operate within the Wayland environment.

Compatible hardware

Mer can be built for various instruction set architectures such as x86, ARM, and MIPS.

There are Mer-based distributions available for hardware like Raspberry Pi, Beagleboard, Nokia N900, Nokia N950, Nokia N9, and several Intel Atom tablets. These distributions provide hardware adaptation layers and user experience enhancements from different projects, enabling flashing or dual-boot alongside original device firmware.

The project employs the Open Build Service with distinct repositories dedicated to each architecture:

Mer port designation	OBS scheduler label	RPM architectures supported	OBS project identifier in MDS	OBS repository identifier in MDS	Description
i486	i586	i486	Core:i486	Core_i486	Generic i486+ X86 architecture port
i586	i586	i586, i686	Core:i586	Core_i586	X86 port with SSSE3 support
x86_64	x86_64	x86_64	Core:x86_64	Core_x86_64	Standard 64-bit architecture port
armv6l	armv7el	armv6l	Core:armv6l	Core_armv6l	ARMv6 architecture with VFP support port
armv7l	armv7el	armv7l	Core:armv7l	Core_armv7l	ARMv7 VFPv3-D16 port utilizing softfp ABI
armv7hl	armv8el	armv7hl	Core:armv7hl	Core_armv7hl	ARMv7 VFPv3-D16 port employing hardfp ABI
armv7tnhl	armv8el	armv7hl, armv7nhl, armv7tnhl, armv7thl	Core:armv7tnhl	Core_armv7tnhl	ARMv7 VFPv3-D16 port with hardfp ABI, NEON, Thumb2 support
mipsel	mips	mipsel	Core:mipsel	Core_mipsel	MIPS32 O32 ABI port with hardfloat

KDE Plasma Active

Serving as the foundational platform for KDE’s Plasma Active, Mer contributed to improved performance and broadened application availability.

Vivaldi Tablet and Improv-computer

The 'Vivaldi Tablet', initially named the 'Spark tablet', was introduced in January 2012 and built upon the Plasma Active platform. Equipped with a 7-inch multitouch screen and powered by the Allwinner A20 SoC, it operated Plasma Active on Mer and targeted an affordable price around €200. However, delays arose due to changes in hardware partners and challenges related to kernel source availability. A derivative project aimed at developers, called Improv-computer and preloaded with Mer, was scheduled for release in January 2014. Both the Vivaldi Tablet and Improv-computer initiatives were ultimately discontinued by mid-2014.

Nemo Mobile

Nemo Mobile is an open-source operating system driven by a community, built on the Linux kernel and Mer, providing a graphical user interface and applications similar to those found in Sailfish OS developed by Jolla. Since 2019, Nemo Mobile transitioned away from Mer to Manjaro Linux due to outdated components such as Qt 5.6 and issues related to licensing. Unlike Sailfish OS, which utilizes Hybris for hardware integration, Nemo Mobile relies on Halium as its hardware abstraction layer.

Jolla and Sailfish OS

In July 2012, Jolla, a Finnish enterprise founded by ex-Nokia MeeGo engineers, announced the development of Sailfish OS, an operating system based on MeeGo and Mer's core frameworks but featuring proprietary graphical interfaces and hardware support layers. The OS was publicly revealed in November 2012. Jolla released its first Sailfish-powered smartphone, the Jolla, during 2013. In October 2014, Jolla introduced the Jolla Tablet running Sailfish OS 2.0, equipped with a 64-bit quad-core Intel processor, with availability planned for May 2015. Additionally, Sailfish OS 2.0 was licensed for integration into devices such as Intex's Aqua Fish and the PuzzlePhone.

Yuanxin OS

In November 2014, Yuanxin Technology from China launched Yuanxin OS, which president Shi Wenyong described as "China's own smartphone operating system," positioning it as a competitor to Android and iOS platforms. Yuanxin OS is constructed on the Mer distribution foundation with the objective of fostering a domestic mobile software ecosystem.

History

Mer’s original mission was to offer a completely free alternative to the Maemo operating system utilized on Nokia Internet Tablets like the N800 and N810 models (N8x0 series). Initially based on Ubuntu version 9.04, Mer expanded its scope following Maemo 5/Fremantle’s release to port as much Fremantle functionality as possible onto N8x0 devices.

Shift to MeeGo

After releasing version 0.17, Mer development paused as efforts redirected toward creating MeeGo for the N800 and N810 tablets. At this point, MeeGo had garnered support from a wider developer community.

Collapse of MeeGo

In mid-2011, a small group of MeeGo developers—including some former Mer contributors—quietly resumed work after Nokia altered its strategy in February 2011. They expressed concerns over MeeGo’s closed governance model and dependence on large corporations, which increased the risk of abandonment—a fate that materialized when Nokia withdrew from the project.

This fragility became evident when Intel, Samsung, and the Linux Foundation introduced Tizen, a new platform centered on HTML5 applications and utilizing Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL) rather than Qt for native app development. Nonetheless, on May 14, 2014, Tizen:Common announced plans to reintegrate Qt support.

Revival with "MeeGo Reconstructed"

Following the announcement of Tizen, the MeeGo mailing list saw the resurgence of Mer as an open and merit-based initiative—distinguishing itself from both MeeGo and Tizen. Built upon the MeeGo codebase and development tools, Mer delivers the foundational system without a preset user interface, while offering APIs compatible with Qt, EFL, HTML5, and potentially additional frameworks as needed.

This initiative rapidly gained momentum among former MeeGo contributors and related projects. The reference handset user experience was restructured into Nemo Mobile, which runs on top of Mer; meanwhile, tablet user interface projects such as Cordia—a reimplementation of Maemo 5 Hildon—and Plasma Active also came into existence. However, Mer-based versions for In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) and Smart TV interfaces have not yet been developed.

Mer’s objective is to achieve what MeeGo was unable to accomplish: establishing a reliable, open-source platform that meets all MeeGo software criteria and effectively functions as a successor, akin to MeeGo 2.0.

Merger with Sailfish

In early 2019, operations of Mer and Sailfish combined under the single brand Sailfish OS, leading to the discontinuation of the Mer name.