What Drives China’s “Xinchuang” IT Industry? OS, Middleware, Database & Firmware Overview

Xinchuang Industry Overview

Xinchuang, short for information technology application innovation, aims to achieve autonomous and controllable IT infrastructure in China, safeguarding national information security. The industry consists of four main parts: basic hardware, basic software, application software, and information security, with chips, complete machines, operating systems, databases, and middleware being the most critical links.

Operating System: Concepts and Classification

An operating system (OS) coordinates, manages, and controls computer hardware and software resources, serving as the core system software. Based on device type, general-purpose OSes include desktop, server, and mobile OSes. According to source code openness, they are divided into open‑source and closed‑source systems. Technically, Linux distributions fall into two major streams: commercial distributions led by Red Hat and community distributions led by Debian.

Global OS Landscape

According to StatCounter data, the global OS market is dominated by five systems: Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux. In 2017, Android’s market share surpassed Windows for the first time. As of March 20 2022, Android held 41.03% of the market, followed by Windows at 31.4%.

Middleware: Concept and Evolution

Middleware is foundational software for distributed systems, positioned between applications and the operating system/database. It addresses data transmission, access, application scheduling, system construction, integration, and workflow management, providing a platform for developing, running, and integrating distributed applications.

Since the 1980s, middleware has undergone four generations: initially solving business informationization, then enabling internet‑based business, followed by component reuse, and finally supporting data sharing and channel integration in the cloud‑big‑data era, driving innovation from planning‑centric to customer‑scenario‑driven business models.

Database: Concept and Classification

A database is a repository system for storing and managing structured data, essential for enterprise operations. Databases are generally divided into relational and non‑relational types. In China, relational databases dominate (about 60% of products), while non‑relational and hybrid databases account for roughly 40% (as of June 2021).

Firmware: Concept and Classification

Firmware, also known as “firmware”, is software embedded in hardware that performs the most fundamental functions, such as booting a hard drive. It can be likened to a BIOS and operating system for a hard drive, containing low‑level assembly instructions that coordinate internal components.

BIOS firmware resides on a storage chip on a computer’s motherboard and is essential for system initialization, startup, and OS booting. BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) firmware is embedded in server motherboards, providing remote monitoring and near‑complete control over the server, making it a core technology for server and cloud computing industries.

Conclusion

The Xinchuang industry strives for self‑reliant, controllable IT infrastructure to protect national information security. Its core chain includes chips, complete machines, operating systems, databases, and middleware, each playing a pivotal role in building a secure and independent technology ecosystem.