Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC)

What Does Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) Mean?

Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) is a set of standards, libraries, and virtual-machine features that serve as the basis for APIs targeted at devices with very limited resources. A large number of feature phones, as well as some embedded systems, fall under this category of devices.

CLDC is one of two configurations under the Java Platform Micro Edition (Java ME). Compared to the devices supported by another configuration (called Connected Device Configuration), CLDC-supported devices have more constrained hardware resources, including RAM, screen size and resolution, and CPU.

CLDC can work with devices that are driven by 16-bit or 32-bit microprocessors/controllers. These microprocessors/controllers should have clock speeds of at least 16 MHz and available non-volatile memory of at least 160 KB for the CLDC libraries and the virtual machine, as well as 192 KB for the Java platform. In most cases, these devices are powered by batteries and support wireless connectivity.

Techopedia Explains Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC)

CLDC supports the Mobile Information Device Profile, Information Module Profile, Digital Set Top Box Profile, and the Doja Profile. The Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) is the profile designed for cell phones. Applications written using MIDP are known as midlets. These tiny apps comprise the majority of the apps found on feature phones worldwide.

The Information Module Profile is targeted at vending machines, routers, telephone boxes, network cards, and other similar embedded systems. Such systems have very simple displays or none at all. The Digital Set Top Box Profile is tailor made for the cable TV industry. This profile is based on Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP), an OS for devices that connect to cable TV systems.

Optional packages that work with the CLDC include the Personal Information Management and FileConnection packages.