# CGI Studio Editions

Overview about the CGI Studio Editions.

# Candera CGI Studio Editions

Candera CGI Studio is currently available in three different editions:

1. <span style="color:rgb(230,126,35);">[**Enterprise Edition**](https://doc316en.candera.eu/books/cgi-studio-enterprise-edition "Candera CGI Studio - Enterprise Edition") </span>- provides the maximum level of features and flexibility for embedded projects
2. <span style="color:rgb(230,126,35);">[**Professional Edition**](https://doc316en.candera.eu/books/cgi-studio-professional-edition "Candera CGI Studio - Professional Edition")</span> - focuses on ease of use for creating embedded projects
3. <span style="color:rgb(230,126,35);">[**Community Edition**](https://doc316en.candera.eu/books/cgi-studio-community-edition "Candera CGI Studio - Community Edition")</span> - a free edition for creating projects for non-commercial applications

There are several key differences between the individual editions. The primary distinction between the Enterprise Edition and the Professional/Community Editions is the range of available features, with the Enterprise Edition offering the complete feature set (see full list of feature differences<span style="color:rgb(230,126,35);"> [here](https://doc316en.candera.eu/books/cgi-studio-editions/page/candera-cgi-studio-editions-comparison-table)</span>).

In addition, the Professional and Community Editions use a different approach to data binding implementation. While the Enterprise Edition provides maximum flexibility, the CGI Studio Player has to be built specifically for each target platform. This enables full customization and optimization of the HMI application for the respective target.

In contrast, the Professional and Community Editions implement data binding in a predefined way using Python scripts instead of C++. This approach simplifies and accelerates HMI creation while requiring less engineering expertise, though it offers reduced flexibility for target-specific optimization. To address these limitations, Candera is preparing optimized Player builds for the supported platforms of the Professional Edition.

When comparing the Professional Edition with the Community Edition, there are no functional differences. The main distinction is that the Community Edition is available free of charge but may not be used for commercial purposes. In addition, it includes built-in hardware limitations that restrict target deployments through the implementation of a Candera watermark and runtime limitations (for more information, click<span style="color:rgb(230,126,35);"> [here](https://doc316en.candera.eu/books/cgi-studio-community-edition "Candera CGI Studio - Community Edition")</span>).

<p class="callout info">The created solutions and assets are not compatible among each other. E.g. if you create a solution/asset with our Community Edition, you will not be able to use them with the Professional and Enterprise Editions (and vice versa). However, if you want to upgrade to a commercial Edition we can convert your solutions/assets for you.</p>

# Candera CGI Studio Editions - Comparison Table

As written on the page <span style="color:rgb(230,126,35);">[Candera CGI Studio Editions](https://doc316en.candera.eu/boohttps://doc316en.candera.eu/books/cgi-studio-editions/page/candera-cgi-studio-editions "Candera CGI Studio Editions")</span>, there are certain differences between the available Candera CGI Studio editions. A detailed overview of the individual differences can be found in the table below.

<p class="callout info">The created solutions and assets are not compatible among each other. E.g. if you create a solution/asset with our Community Edition, you will not be able to use them with the Professional and Enterprise Editions (and vice versa). However, if you want to upgrade to a commercial Edition we can convert your solutions/assets for you.</p>

<table id="bkmrk-community-edition-pr" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;height:1107.37px;"><colgroup><col style="width:25.0298%;"></col><col style="width:25.0298%;"></col><col style="width:25.0298%;"></col><col style="width:25.0298%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">  
</td><td style="height:29.7969px;"><span style="color:rgb(230,126,35);">[**Community Edition**](https://doc316en.candera.eu/books/cgi-studio-community-edition "Candera CGI Studio - Community Edition")</span></td><td style="height:29.7969px;"><span style="color:rgb(230,126,35);">[**Professional Edition**](https://doc316en.candera.eu/books/cgi-studio-professional-edition "Candera CGI Studio - Professional Edition")</span></td><td style="height:29.7969px;"><span style="color:rgb(230,126,35);">[**Enterprise Edition**](https://doc316en.candera.eu/books/cgi-studio-enterprise-edition "Candera CGI Studio - Enterprise Edition")</span></td></tr><tr style="height:113.781px;"><td style="height:113.781px;">Licence Type</td><td style="height:113.781px;">Free licence with runtime and watermark restriction

  
Note: 3 free target licenses upon Community Forum registration

</td><td style="height:113.781px;">Pay per seat license

Pay per target license (scaled price)

</td><td style="height:113.781px;">Pay per seat license

Pay per target license (scaled price)

</td></tr><tr style="height:31.9609px;"><td style="height:31.9609px;">Commercial Usage <sup>1</sup></td><td style="height:31.9609px;">No</td><td style="height:31.9609px;">Yes</td><td style="height:31.9609px;">Yes</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td class="align-center" colspan="4" style="height:29.7969px;">**Data Binding**</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Compiling of CGI Studio Player</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">not required</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">not required</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">required</td></tr><tr style="height:31.9609px;"><td style="height:31.9609px;">Data Binding Set delivered</td><td style="height:31.9609px;">Yes<sup>2</sup></td><td style="height:31.9609px;">Yes<sup>2</sup></td><td style="height:31.9609px;">No</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Data Binding</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">Python Script</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">Python Script</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">C++</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Empty Solution</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">Preset data binding</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">Preset data binding</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">no data binding predefined</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">New Solution Wizard</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">Preset data binding</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">Preset data binding</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">no data binding predefined</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td class="align-center" colspan="4" style="height:29.7969px;">**Hardware**</td></tr><tr style="height:46.5938px;"><td style="height:46.5938px;">Platform Support</td><td style="height:46.5938px;">Raspberry Pi 4

Raspberry Pi 5

</td><td style="height:46.5938px;">Selection of Platforms</td><td style="height:46.5938px;">All Platforms</td></tr><tr style="height:46.5938px;"><td style="height:46.5938px;">Advanced Optimization Capabilities</td><td style="height:46.5938px;">Pre-optimized by Candera<sup>3</sup>

</td><td style="height:46.5938px;">Pre-optimized by Candera<sup>3</sup></td><td style="height:46.5938px;">Full-featured optimization by customer and/or Candera</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td colspan="4" style="height:29.7969px;">**Features**

</td></tr><tr style="height:31.9609px;"><td style="height:31.9609px;">Scene Composer</td><td style="height:31.9609px;">✓<sup>4</sup>

</td><td style="height:31.9609px;">✓<sup>4</sup></td><td style="height:31.9609px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">PC and Target Player</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">2D Graphics Engine</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">3D Graphics Engine</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">UI Controls</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">UI Layout</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">State Machine</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Solution Templates</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Documentation</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Online-Forum</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Software Renderer</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Sources for Engine</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">API-Documentation</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Plug-in Support</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Memory Manager</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Analyzer</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Asset Tool</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Warping</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">✓</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td colspan="4" style="height:29.7969px;">**Support**

</td></tr><tr style="height:29.7969px;"><td style="height:29.7969px;">Expert Support</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">×

</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">Paid support plan</td><td style="height:29.7969px;">Custom</td></tr><tr><td>Expert Response </td><td>×

</td><td>During working days</td><td>Custom</td></tr><tr><td>Support type</td><td>Community Forum

</td><td>Community / Lighthouse Forum</td><td>E-Mail / Phone</td></tr><tr><td colspan="4">**Other**

</td></tr><tr><td>Functional Safety</td><td>×

</td><td>On request</td><td>On request</td></tr></tbody></table>

<div id="bkmrk-1-no-watermark%2C-no-r"><sup>1</sup> No Watermark, no Runtime-Restriction  
<sup>2</sup> It is planned to enable custom data bindings in future versions of Candera CGI Studio Community / Professional Edition  
<sup>3</sup> It is planned to enable some optimization-features in future versions of Candera CGI Studio Community / Professional Edition  
<sup>4</sup> incl. Scene Editor, View Editor, State Machine Editor, Fusion Editor, Transition Editor  
</div><div id="bkmrk-%C2%A0-community-edition-"><div id="bkmrk-%C2%A0-community-edition--1"></div></div>