Huawei Technologies has announced plans to open-source its programming language, Cangjie, starting July 30, 2025.

Launched in 2024, Cangjie gives developers access to modify and enhance its code, supporting Huawei’s push for tech independence amid US export restrictions.

Cangjie is designed for HarmonyOS Next, Huawei’s Android-independent operating system.

It also supports app development on Android and iOS, which may position it in competition with established languages like Java and Swift.

Cangjie has been used to build apps for platforms like Meituan and JD.com, with Meituan set to launch a rider app using it in Q3.

Huawei also introduced HarmonyOS 6 and new AI models, alongside its CloudMatrix 384 AI rack to strengthen its software ecosystem.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Huawei’s resilient technological self-sufficiency strategy

Cangjie represents just one component of Huawei’s comprehensive technological independence strategy that has evolved significantly since US sanctions began in 2018.

The company has systematically replaced over 13,000 foreign-made parts with domestic alternatives to reduce reliance on Western technology 1.

This self-sufficiency approach has yielded measurable results. Huawei’s revenue grew by nearly 10% to 704.2 billion yuan in 2023, with net profit more than doubling to 87 billion yuan despite ongoing sanctions 2.

HarmonyOS, which Cangjie primarily supports, has already gained a 17% market share in China, surpassing Apple’s iOS in early 2024. This demonstrates the viability of Huawei’s software ecosystem strategy 1.

The company’s multi-pronged approach includes investments in 107 tech startups and aggressive in-house R&D, allowing it to maintain growth for three consecutive years after initial revenue losses in 2021 1, 2.

2️⃣ Learning from past software development setbacks

Cangjie’s development appears to incorporate lessons from Huawei’s earlier compiler efforts that faced significant challenges.

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