Explore Tencent’s Open‑Source Tools: KV Stores, AI, Mobile & More

High‑Performance General Key‑Value Component

MMKV is a key‑value component based on mmap memory mapping, using protobuf for serialization. It offers high performance and stability, used in WeChat since 2015, and has been ported to Android, macOS, Win32, POSIX and open‑sourced.

MMKV Principles

Memory Preparation : Uses mmap to map a file into memory, providing a writable memory block that the OS writes back to the file, ensuring data persistence even after crashes.

Data Organization : Uses protobuf for serialization, offering good performance and space efficiency.

Write Optimization : Supports incremental updates by appending serialized kv objects to the memory end.

Space Growth : Addresses uncontrolled file size growth from appends by balancing performance and space.

Project address: https://github.com/Tencent/MMKV

APIJSON

APIJSON is a JSON‑based network transmission protocol and ORM library designed for APIs. It provides fully automated universal APIs for CRUD, complex queries, and simple transactions, reducing development and communication costs, suitable for small‑to‑medium front‑back separation projects, BaaS, Serverless, and enterprise use.

For Frontend

No need to chase backend interfaces or request documentation.

Data and structure are fully customizable.

Results are visible from requests, what you ask for is what you get.

One request can retrieve any data in any structure.

Eliminates duplicate data, saving bandwidth and improving speed.

For Backend

Provides generic interfaces, reducing the need to write most APIs.

Automatically generates documentation.

Auto‑validates permissions, manages versions, and prevents SQL injection.

Open API remains compatible without version splits.

Supports CRUD, fuzzy search, regex matching, remote functions, etc.

Project address: https://github.com/Tencent/APIJSON

Mars – Cross‑Platform, Cross‑Business Terminal Foundation Component

Mars is a cross‑platform, cross‑business terminal foundation component used by WeChat. It includes:

comm : Public library with socket, thread, message queue, coroutine, etc.

xlog : High‑reliability, high‑performance runtime logging component.

SDT : Network diagnostic component.

STN : Signalling distribution network module, the core of Mars.

Project address: https://github.com/Tencent/Mars

ncnn – High‑Performance Neural Network Forward‑Computation Framework

ncnn is a mobile‑optimized high‑performance neural network forward‑computation framework. It has no third‑party dependencies, is cross‑platform, and its CPU speed on mobile devices surpasses known open‑source frameworks. Used in many Tencent apps such as QQ, Qzone, WeChat, and MeituPic.

Features

Supports CNNs, multiple inputs, multi‑branch structures, and partial branch computation.

No third‑party library dependencies (no BLAS/NNPACK).

Pure C++ implementation, cross‑platform (Android, iOS, etc.).

ARM NEON assembly‑level optimizations for fast computation.

Fine‑grained memory management and data structures for low memory usage.

Multi‑core parallel acceleration with ARM big.LITTLE scheduling optimizations.

Vulkan API GPU acceleration with low consumption.

Library size under 700 KB, can be trimmed below 300 KB.

Project address: https://github.com/Tencent/ncnn

Tinker – Android Hot‑Patch Solution

Tinker is WeChat’s Android hot‑patch solution that supports dynamic delivery of code, .so libraries, and resources, enabling updates without reinstalling the app. It includes:

Gradle plugin: tinker-patch-gradle-plugin

Core SDK library: tinker-android-lib

CLI version for non‑Gradle users: tinker-patch-cli.jar

Project address: https://github.com/Tencent/tinker

libco – C/C++ Coroutine Library

libco is a C/C++ coroutine library used at massive scale in WeChat backend since 2013. It provides simple interfaces (co_create, co_resume, co_yield, co_poll) and socket hooks, allowing asynchronous conversion of thread services with minimal code changes.

Features

No intrusion into business logic; transforms multi‑process/thread services to coroutine services with hundred‑fold concurrency boost.

Supports CGI framework for easy web service construction.

Supports common third‑party libraries such as gethostbyname, mysqlclient, ssl.

Optional shared‑stack mode for millions of connections.

Simple pthread‑like API for coroutine creation and resumption.

Thread‑local coroutine variables and semaphore (co_signal).

Lambda‑style language support for inline asynchronous tasks.

Lightweight network framework based on epoll/kqueue and high‑performance timer wheel.

Project address: https://github.com/Tencent/libco

Shadow – Android Plugin Framework

Shadow is a Tencent‑developed Android plugin framework validated by billions of users. It offers source reuse, zero‑reflection, zero‑Hack implementation, fully dynamic architecture, minimal host footprint (~15 KB, ~160 methods), and core code written in Kotlin.

Project address: https://github.com/Tencent/Shadow

Hippy – Cross‑Platform Development Framework

Hippy enables developers to write a single codebase that runs on iOS, Android, and Web. Designed for traditional web developers, especially those familiar with React Native or Vue, it powers 27 Tencent apps, delivering billions of daily users.

Features

Supports React and Vue front‑end frameworks.

Consistent interfaces across platforms.

JS‑engine binding for high‑performance front‑end communication.

High‑performance reusable list components.

Smooth migration to web browsers.

Full Flex layout engine support.

Project address: https://github.com/Tencent/Hippy

WePY – Component‑Based Mini‑Program Framework

WePY enables component‑based development for mini‑programs via pre‑compilation, supporting Vue‑like syntax, custom components, NPM packages, Promise, async functions, and various preprocessors (Less, Sass, Stylus, PostCSS, Babel, TypeScript, Pug). It also offers source‑map, ESLint, and other tooling.

Project address: https://github.com/Tencent/wepy

TencentOS tiny – Real‑Time OS for IoT

TencentOS tiny is a real‑time operating system for IoT devices, featuring low power consumption, small footprint, modularity, and security. It provides a configurable kernel, drivers, IoT protocol stacks (CoAP, MQTT, TLS/DTLS, LoRaWAN, NB‑IoT), security framework (DTLS/TLS), and components such as file system, KV storage, OTA, and debugging tools.

Architecture

CPU Library : Supports ARM Cortex‑M0/3/4/7, Cortex‑A7, RISC‑V, MSP430, AVR, STM8, etc.

Driver Management Layer : Includes BSP, HAL, and device drivers (Wi‑Fi, GPRS, LoRa, etc.).

Kernel : Provides task management, real‑time scheduling, timers, interrupts, memory management, exceptions, software timers, linked lists, message queues, semaphores, mutexes, event flags.

IoT Protocol Stack : Offers lwIP, AT Adapter, SAL, and protocols like CoAP and MQTT.

Security Framework : Implements DTLS/TLS for secure transmission and key authentication for constrained devices.

Component Framework : Includes file system, KV storage, mesh networking, JS engine, low‑power framework, OTA, debugging tools, etc.

Project address: https://github.com/Tencent/TencentOS-tiny