What is Kbox-UniStack? Modern KNX Development Platform
Kbox-UniStack is a platform-independent KNX protocol stack and framework built for the KNX building automation protocol. It runs on STM32 and ESP, on HAL or bare-metal. It is an open development platform: the source code is closed, but downloading and building with it is completely free.
Why Kbox-UniStack?
While the KNX protocol is the world standard in building automation, its complexity creates a significant barrier on the software side. Worse, competing stacks make you pay up front just to start building. Kbox-UniStack has no paywall.
Kbox-UniStack solves these problems with the following principles:
- Platform-Independent: One stack, one application layer. STM32 and ESP; HAL or bare-metal. Port to new hardware without touching your application logic.
- No Paywall: Download free and build today. You pay nothing until your product goes commercial; licensing kicks in only at the KNX certification stage.
- KNX Secure: Authenticated and encrypted KNX communication is built in — no bolt-on required.
- Optimized Footprint: Engineered for constrained flash and RAM; it leaves room for your application even on small microcontrollers.
Core Components
1. KNX Protocol Stack
At the heart of Kbox-UniStack is a full KNX protocol implementation compliant with the KNX specification. It covers all communication scenarios on the KNX bus with cEMI (Common External Message Interface) and raw TP (Twisted Pair) frame processing, group communication, individual addressing, and broadcast support.
2. Stack + Framework Toolkit
Kbox-UniStack is more than a protocol stack. It ships with ready-to-use building blocks for application development: UART and I2C drivers, and Button, Watchdog, Flash and LED classes. So you build the product, not the plumbing.
3. DPT (Data Point Type) Library
Type-safe encode/decode functions for all DPTs defined in the KNX standard. Ready-to-use support for temperature (DPT 9.001), humidity (DPT 9.007), switch (DPT 1.001), dimmer (DPT 3.007), percentage (DPT 5.001), and hundreds more data types.
4. Memory Management API
A safe, abstracted API layer for accessing KNX device memory. Full support for MemoryRead, MemoryWrite, PropertyRead, and PropertyWrite operations. Ideal for device configuration and parameter persistence.
Transparent Pricing
Our prices are open and fixed for life: the stack license is a one-time €10,000, plus €1,000 per OEM customer. Comparable licenses run up to €30,000 elsewhere — and there you pay before you even start building. With Kbox-UniStack you build first and pay only when your product reaches certification.
Who Should Use It?
- KNX Device Manufacturers: Save time by using the protocol stack when developing new KNX devices.
- Building Automation Integrators: Use the platform-independent structure to develop custom KNX solutions and gateways.
- IoT Developers: Leverage Kbox-UniStack's abstraction layers to connect the KNX bus to the IoT ecosystem.
- R&D Teams: Download free and prototype — no risk, no up-front payment.
Getting Started
Download Kbox-UniStack for free and start building today. Get up to speed quickly with documentation, platform ports, example projects, and API reference.