About CCL
Crystal Class Library® (CCL) is a cross-platform C++ framework for building complete products and ecosystems across desktop, mobile, and embedded platforms, including RTOS and bare-metal environments.
The first version of CCL was created by Matthias Juwan in 1999. The framework is distributed and maintained by CCL Software Licensing GmbH based in Hamburg, Germany. PreSonus is a contributor since 2009.
Proven in Production
With more than 25 years of continuous development, CCL powers over 50 commercial products and runs daily in 250,000+ embedded devices.
Products built with CCLHistory
2026
CCL 5 is released as open source under a dual-licensing model (commercial and AGPLv3).
2023
CCL is distributed and maintained by CCL Software Licensing GmbH.
2019
20th anniversary of CCL coinciding with the 10th anniversary of PreSonus' flagship application Studio One based on the framework.
2015
New High-DPI graphics engine based on Direct2D. Initial support for Android platform.
2012
Initial support for iOS platform, multi-touch, and embedded Linux.
2009
10th anniversary of CCL. The framework is licensed to PreSonus Software Limited.
2006
CCL is licensed to KristalLabs Software Limited, a start-up company co-founded by Matthias Juwan.
2004
CCL version 3 for K2 project with initial support for the Mac platform.
2002
CCL version 2 for Cash Manager 2 and KRISTAL Audio Engine freeware applications.
1999
First version of CCL for the Windows platform developed by Matthias Juwan for his diploma thesis at engineering school.
