QP ("Quantum Platform") is a family of open source real-time embedded frameworks (RTEFs) and runtime environments based on active objects (actors) and hierarchical state machines (UML statecharts). The QP family consists of the lightweight QP/C and QP/C++ frameworks, written in C (C99) and C++ (C++11), respectively. Active Objects (Actors) For Real-Time The QP RTEFs are an implementation of the Active Object (Actor) model of computation, specifically tailored for real-time embedded (RTE) systems. Active Objects (Actors) can be combined with a wide variety of threading models, including real-time kernels (RTOS kernels). In the latter case, the combination, carefully designed for deterministic performance, is called the Real-Time Embedded Framework (RTEF). The Active Object architecture inherently supports and automatically enforces the best practices of concurrent programming. This results in applications that are safer, more responsive, and easier to manage than the "naked" threads and the myriad of blocking mechanisms of a traditional Real-Time Operating System (RTOS). The QP frameworks also provide a higher level of abstraction and the right abstractions to effectively apply graphical modeling and code generation to deeply embedded systems. Framework, NOT a Library The main difference between an RTOS and a (real-time) framework is that when you use a "naked" RTOS, you write the main body of each and every thread in the application and from there, you call the various RTOS services (e.g., a time-delay or a semaphore). When you use a framework, you reuse the overall architecture (such as the event loop for all private threads of Active Objects) and you only write the code that the RTEF calls. This leads to inversion of control, which allows the RTEF to automatically enforce the best practices of concurrent programming. In contrast, a “naked” RTOS lets you do anything and offers no help or automation for the best practices. Hierarchical State Machines The behavior of active objects (actors) is specified in QP by means of hierarchical state machines (UML statecharts). The frameworks support manual coding of UML state machines in C or C++ as well as fully automatic code generation by means of the free graphical QM modeling tool. The QP frameworks and the QM modeling tool are used in medical devices, defense & aerospace, robotics, consumer electronics, wired and wireless telecommunication, industrial automation, transportation, and many more. QP architecture and components QP consists of a universal UML-compliant event processor (QEP), a portable, event-driven, real-time framework (QF), a selection of