I really want to develop software for the XDA but.... - Windows Mobile Software Development

I Really Really Really want to develop some stuff for the XDA (I have been doing this sort of stuff for over 25 years!!) but I am not sure if Java would be best or C++ (I am dead good in both)
I know java like the back of my hand
and Borland C++ the same but I do not know Visual C++ at all (I have had a look and don't like what I see)
I am having REAL troubles finding out anything - Can anyone help :?:
A few pointers in the right direction would be great!!
Java has the adavantage of being portable but the packages avaialble are poor (only AWT it seems)
C++ would be great but it seems that you can only use Visual C++ (which is as visual as a blind man on a charging horse)
I need to be able to develop database-type applications with nice pretty controls such as Text Fields List Boxes and the like.
There is a beer in it for anyone who can help

Some options:
Java: no-go - there is no built in JRE on the XDA, so you'd have to count on your users to buy a third party one like Jeode or Creme.
C++: yes Visual C++ doesn't really provide a full visual toolkit, compared to the Borland IDEs, but it's the best performance-wise, and applications will run with minimal install on XDAs
EVB: Have you tried the embedded VB environment - it makes producing programs a doddle with a good screed designer etc, however performance is a dog as it's interpreted. Also access to API functions is difficult, and in a lot of cases (callbacks etc) impossible.
.NET CF: This might be the answer to your problem. You can develop applications using VisualStudio.net for the compact framework (ie the PocketPC) in either VB.Net or C#. The IDE is everything you'd want. The runtime is distributable (although it's 1.5B), but it's currently quite show. Strangely, you can't currently use C++.Net for the CF, but reportedly ths will be rectified soon. It's also quite costly.
So:
- for power, performance and code size, but missing ease of use: eVC
- for ease of use and code size, but limited power and low performance: eVB
- for ease of use and power, but lacking performance, and a 1.5MB CF install: .NET
Judging by your requirements for database style development, and your experience with C++, I'd recommend using C# and the .Net CF
If you don't want to invest in visual studio 2003, then go with eVB, but bear in mind eVB is being phased out and will be unsupported on PPC2003 devices.

hi
Dive into eVC++. Yes it is a pain to get started but you can do anything in it. I do most of my development for desktops in qt so it was a real pain to learn MS weird ways but it is not so bad and it is the only alternative.
Cheers
Ian Bennetts

Related

Programming ... Whats Best???

Hi!
I'm a Programmer for Visial Basic and Delphi...
I'm not sure whitch system is the best 4 programming the XDA?
AppForge or what?
Thanx
Stevie
Each have their advantages. I would go with Embedded C++ every time, but then, I'm that kind of guy. I like lean code.
On the other hand... If you don't want to learn C++, give Embedded VB a try.
Programming
Hi!
Thanx, but U mean Visual C++ 6.0 ??? Is there anything other what I need with C++ like Appforge 4 VB? Or do I need nothing more?
Stevie
No.. I mean Embedded C++. It is available for free from microsoft
http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads...=/msdn-files/027/001/963/msdncompositedoc.xml
>I'm not sure whitch system is the best 4 programming the XDA?
>AppForge or what?
I guess it depends on your definition of "best".
I do C++, but actually prefer Visual Basic for most
applications due to the development speed for GUI-based
stuff.
I've downloaded eMbedded Visual Basic and eMbedded C++ from
Microsoft. One problem: EVB apparently does *not* yet
support the XDA architecture (StrongARM).
The SmartPhone SDK from MS *does* support StrongARM (not
*specifically the XDA* that I can tell) but only provides the SDK
for eMbedded C++ (not EVB).
I EMAILed the MobileVB folk and they said:
1) They don't support SmartPhones.
2) They don't have any support for SMS handling.
At this point I guess I'll go to EVC++ unless I can find other
tool(sets) to use.
What *I* would like to see is script support ALA PERL or PYTHON.
Is there anyone out there that knows of a beastie like this?
Or, even better (for me) would be LINUX on the XDA (I've
been using Familiar distro on the iPAQ, and it is great .. can
do GPRS/GPS from a LINUX-based platform (C/C++/JAVA/PERL/PYTHON/whatever).
Charlie
You keep mentioning Smartphone here, and the Smartphone SDK. The XDA does not support the Smartphone SDK, as it is not a Smartphone - it runs Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition - something completely different.
So please, don't spend several hours downloading the Smartphone SDK to find it's not the right one. Download the Pocket PC 2002 SDK. I have developed several apps for the XDA using this already.
What *I* would like to see is script support ALA PERL or PYTHON.
Is there anyone out there that knows of a beastie like this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a PocketPC Python, you have to use the win32api to GUI work, and installation can be a little painful depending on what you need. It does run and is stable though. Check out http://www.murkworks.com/Research/Python/PythonCE/PythonCEWiki/FrontPage[/quote]
Hi guys
I downloaded eMbedded Visual Tools 3.0 from Microsoft, but during installation, I was asked for the Product ID #
Any help ? :?:
I'd like to throw in another suggestion: the .Net Compact Framework. If you're a Delphi programmer (as are we - I used to be on TeamB for Delphi), you'll take to it straight away. After all, .Net and C# was designed by the same Anders Hejlsberg that designed Delphi. C# is very like Object Pascal with a C/Java syntax, but with even more goodies.
We've been using the Compact Framework beta for several months and it is quite simply superb. It was just launched officially on April 26th as part of Visual Studio.Net 2003. However, you don't need to buy Visual Studio - just download the .Net 1.1 SDK from Microsoft - it's free.
It's just a subset of the full .Net Framework, but if you need to do something that's not supported directly in the Framework classes, you can easily call API functions - or even write some code in embedded VC++ and call that. The managed environment is just great.
MikeS.
When prompted for the CD Key, please enter TRT7H-KD36T-FRH8D-6QH8P-VFJHQ
Khang Le
[email protected]
Khang Le, thanks

App idea, need help starting. :)

Since there isn't a SAPI that's accessible for windows mobile developers, I was disappointed. I just got a Samsung Omnia and I'm quite enthralled by it. I want to write an application that does speech recognition and text to speech.
eSpeak is a program easily ported. It's been done and comes with a how-to guide for compiling for windows mobile 6.x. As far as text to speech goes, then, I'm not too worried (it will be fun developing a voice.)
I got pocketsphinx to compile. The project settings says it was compiled for an x86 machine. Do I have to compile it for the ARM architecture, or do I just need to compile the final application for the ARM architecture, with the pocketsphinx dll somehow baked into the end result?
Also, I was wondering if anyone could point me to a beginner level tutorial for developing applications on windows mobile. I'm brand spanking new to developing on mobile devices, and while the language specific stuff is old hat, there's lots of transitional stuff I need to learn. Any links are appreciated. I'd like to not brick my Omnia by doing something silly, so I'll be developing strictly on my desktop until I'm satisfied with the safety of whatever it is I'm developing.
Thanks, awesome community here!
Hey there JR. As far as WinMo development, here's a list of the basic tools you need:
1. Visual Studio 2008 Professional SP1 + patches (or VS 2010 which is in beta now)
2. Windows Mobile 6 Professional and Standard Software Development Kits Refresh (device and cellular emulators, some samples, download from msdn.microsoft.com)
3. Windows Mobile 6.5 Developer Tool Kit (6.5 emulator images, gestures API etc - also at msdn.microsoft.com)
Assuming you will be writing managed code, the most widely used language is C#.
As far as books, unfortunately WInMo is not getting much love these days (hopefully this will change with WinMo 7) so there's little new but the best book out there IMO is "Microsoft Mobile Development Handbook" by Andy Wigley (2007).
The good news is that there's a plethora of on-line material, easily accessible from the aggregate Search screen in Visual Studio. Sites like codeguru.com, social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsmobiledev, www.c-sharpcorner.com, www.codeproject.com, 4guysfromrolla.com etc are your best friends!
I hope this gets you started! Best of luck with the project.
JRowe47 said:
Since there isn't a SAPI that's accessible for windows mobile developers, I was disappointed. I just got a Samsung Omnia and I'm quite enthralled by it. I want to write an application that does speech recognition and text to speech.
eSpeak is a program easily ported. It's been done and comes with a how-to guide for compiling for windows mobile 6.x. As far as text to speech goes, then, I'm not too worried (it will be fun developing a voice.)
I got pocketsphinx to compile. The project settings says it was compiled for an x86 machine. Do I have to compile it for the ARM architecture, or do I just need to compile the final application for the ARM architecture, with the pocketsphinx dll somehow baked into the end result?
Also, I was wondering if anyone could point me to a beginner level tutorial for developing applications on windows mobile. I'm brand spanking new to developing on mobile devices, and while the language specific stuff is old hat, there's lots of transitional stuff I need to learn. Any links are appreciated. I'd like to not brick my Omnia by doing something silly, so I'll be developing strictly on my desktop until I'm satisfied with the safety of whatever it is I'm developing.
Thanks, awesome community here!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Writing in C#.NET Compact -- you have no worries for 'safety', unless you literally do a File.Delete("/Windows/blah");, you should be okay ;P
But yes, It is based off of the big .NET Framework. So if you can do .NET, you can do .NETCF.
acidhax said:
if you can do .NET, you can do .NETCF.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't agree. In .NET you usually do not need to worry about performance, you usually get away just fine by using a simple approach at the cost of a small bit of performance. On .NET CF you certainly need all the performance you can get. Also, the .NET Compact Framework is heavily stripped down and for a lot of tasks you need to find an alternative, innovative solution.

Which program can I use instead of Visual Studio to make apps for WM?

I want to make apps for WM especially HD2, only I have no experience in programming. Is there an easier program to make apps?
Or is there an easy way to learn Visual Studio? E.g. e-learning or an electronic guide.
Thanx
Sadly there is no "easy" way to learn programming as such, but if you search around on google there are many guides and a lot of help.
First thing to do would be to choose what language to use.
The main choices (if your using visual studio) are:
-Visual Basic .net
-C# .net
-C++
Personally I would advise using C++
It would take quite a while to learn, but its worth it.
Just use google and search for C++ lessons or stuff like that
theres plenty of people out there who have written stuff about it.
There are plenty of programs that you can use for writing in C++
But I dont know how good they are when making programs for
windows mobile. I find Visual Studio quite good.
Hope this helps
If you do not want to shell out the bucks for a professional version of VS there is always the gratis versions of Embedded Visual C++ version 4.0 and the earlier Embedded Tools 3.0 which comprises EVC 3.0 and Embedded Visual Basic. Both available as gratis downloads. I don't know whether MS still host Embedded Tools 3.0 on their site, but plenty of other hosts exist, discoverable via a Google search.
EVB is the easiest to learn. You can expect a very steep learing curve to master EVC, but if you do, you will find it a very enlightening experience. The inner guts of the device can be revealed.
In VS Pro you have the choices of C# and VB using the .NET CF objects. Easier to code than C++, but it does have one or two foibles to trap the unwary.
Good luck!
Visual Basic .net good, simple lang
sincerely recommend
You can also use Mortscript to make a lot of apps.
I recommend it if you are not ready to dive into .net.
resh1309 said:
I want to make apps for WM especially HD2, only I have no experience in programming. Is there an easier program to make apps?
Or is there an easy way to learn Visual Studio? E.g. e-learning or an electronic guide.
Thanx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There has been a lot of question on how to program lately.
Before asking, please:
1) Do a search on the forums
2) Look at the sticky in the front of the forum. There is plenty of information on programming in the Wiki pages.
Good luck!

[Q] VS2008 beginners problems

Hi,
I have started to learn C++ and have created some programs (MinGW + Code::Blocks) for the command line and I would like to add a GUI and run it on my hopefully soon-to-have WM6.5 phone.
So I installed VS2008, Windows Mobile 6 Professional SDK Refresh and Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Professional DTK.
But when I start a new C++ project for a Mobile Device, I don't get a form where I can add buttons, etc. (sadly I have no idea about GUI programming to do it by hand). Also, the items in the Toolbox are greyed out (which makes sense considering that there is no form to add items to).
The video on MSDN ("Creating your first Windows Mobile 6 Application with Visual Studio 2008") made it look so easy - but that was under C#. I can recreate those steps, so under C# I can add stuff from the Toolbox to the form which looks like a WM device, but not under C++.
Am I missing something?
Thanks in advance!
Yep, that's about right. VB and C#, are both .NET CF languages, and as such are more or less identical. C++ is usually used for MFC, ATL or good old Win32 programming models, where the code creates the windows controls, etc and draws them on the client area.
With a bit of C++ knowledge you should be able to create the same thing in C# without too much trouble, but there are a few pitfalls to fall into along the way. C++ can also be used as a .NET language but the casts required make it hideous to read and understand. Go straight to C#.
The C++ programming models take a bit of mastering, but the code runs like a bat out of hell.
Thank you very much for your reply!
stephj said:
Yep, that's about right. VB and C#, are both .NET CF languages, and as such are more or less identical. C++ is usually used for MFC, ATL or good old Win32 programming models, where the code creates the windows controls, etc and draws them on the client area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you are saying that in C++, I pretty much HAVE to program everything by hand? (just to make sure I got you right)
With a bit of C++ knowledge you should be able to create the same thing in C# without too much trouble, but there are a few pitfalls to fall into along the way. C++ can also be used as a .NET language but the casts required make it hideous to read and understand. Go straight to C#.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
K. I do know that C++ and C# should be pretty similar concerning the syntax. But still... any literature recommendations?
The C++ programming models take a bit of mastering, but the code runs like a bat out of hell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I want to stick to C++. My university prefers Java, but don't really like it and find C++ much more "elegant". However, my ideas [dreams?] about programs that I want to write eventually do involve quite some GUI. I had hoped that VS2008 would allow me to quickly get that GUI-stuff out of the way for now, since I thought I use QT for my Windows (and maybe eventually Unix) programs. But as I said, I'm still at the beginning of my learning process, where it is mostly about command line apps to learn the ropes.
Anyways, thanks again!
To be honest I only program WinMo in either Win32 C++ or C#. Although C++ and C# are quite close as far as languages are concerned, the IDE environments are completely different. Under Win32 you respond to the stream of WM_XXXXXX messages fired at your app by the operating system, one for every time something happens. If it is something your app isn't bothered about ignore it. Screen taps get converted to WM_LEFTBUTTONDOWN etc. A button is a child window of the main window, you will have to create it.
In C#, drag an object off the toolbox and drop it on the form, the IDE will maintain any events you wish to trap and use. The machine I have here only has VS 2003 on it, the 2008 machine is at work. I'll have a look at the other C++ models on it next week.
C# and Java are not too far apart, exept that C# uses the .NET framework objects.
As far as books go, I can't really recommend much as I have mastered it from the sharp end as it were, using the online help and examples for day to day, and internet trawls to tackle particular problems. Maybe others can chip in with a few ideas.
I haven't heard of QT running on Windows Mobile, but I could be wrong.
There is also MONO, which is an open source project to run .NET under Linux.
stephj said:
To be honest I only program WinMo in either Win32 C++ or C#. Although C++ and C# are quite close as far as languages are concerned, the IDE environments are completely different. Under Win32 you respond to the stream of WM_XXXXXX messages fired at your app by the operating system, one for every time something happens. If it is something your app isn't bothered about ignore it. Screen taps get converted to WM_LEFTBUTTONDOWN etc. A button is a child window of the main window, you will have to create it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds interesting, but sadly beyond my capabilities at the moment.
In C#, drag an object off the toolbox and drop it on the form, the IDE will maintain any events you wish to trap and use. The machine I have here only has VS 2003 on it, the 2008 machine is at work. I'll have a look at the other C++ models on it next week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, this sounds much more reasonable for what I'm trying to accomplish, but also means I have to learn 2 languages instead of one (I don't want to give up C++). I guess my Windows Mobile app has to wait for a while.
C# and Java are not too far apart, exept that C# uses the .NET framework objects.
As far as books go, I can't really recommend much as I have mastered it from the sharp end as it were, using the online help and examples for day to day, and internet trawls to tackle particular problems. Maybe others can chip in with a few ideas.
I haven't heard of QT running on Windows Mobile, but I could be wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, QT is more for Symbian. But since I want C++ for both Windows and eventually Unix, I thought QT was a good choice. At that point I did not even consider creating an app for WinMo.
There is also MONO, which is an open source project to run .NET under Linux.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I've heard of it. Maybe I'll give it a try when I feel comfortable enough with the basics.
Thanks again for your reply, I'll tackle this when I feel more comfortable with C++! Very much appreciated!

[Q] Develop Apps for Windows Mobile

I want to develop simple apps for Windows Mobile. I read that I can use:
---Compact Framemork. (I downloaded Sharp Develop, it is free. It also exist a program from Resco that speedup the development with C.F.)
--- C or C++ or C# (I don't know if WinMo understand these...)
---Visual Basic (is difficult and Visual Studio isn't free, but I found another program that allows to develop more simple)
---Mortscript (I think is the most simple)
---Which is the best and the most simple language?
---Where can I read or download tutorials?
---I can not develop simple apps with images and sounds yet.
Please Help!
I want to develop
-a lock screen
-an app that turn on and turn off the leds of my device
-an app that change registry values (without softreset the device)
-an app that can copy, cut and delete files
-a Soft Imput Panel (a virtual keyboard)
I haven't done windows mobile development in quite some time, so things may have changed a bit. But to help you out better, it would be good to know what version of windows you intend to develop for (I assume Windows Phone 7?) as well as any specific devices you may want to concentrate on, and what experience you already have with coding.
MortScript is probably a good starting point, though if you want to get some real functionality going, you should look at C#.net CF. Take a look at this MSDN resource: LINK. It should be good for getting started.
I think that for modifying the registry, working with LEDs, and for the software keyboard you may need to use C++ ... though I can be mistaken. I'm not sure how Microsoft has worked out libraries and privileges in WP7.
Cyclonezephyrxz7 said:
I haven't done windows mobile development in quite some time, so things may have changed a bit. But to help you out better, it would be good to know what version of windows you intend to develop for (I assume Windows Phone 7?) as well as any specific devices you may want to concentrate on, and what experience you already have with coding.
MortScript is probably a good starting point, though if you want to get some real functionality going, you should look at C#.net CF. Take a look at this MSDN resource: LINK. It should be good for getting started.
I think that for modifying the registry, working with LEDs, and for the software keyboard you may need to use C++ ... though I can be mistaken. I'm not sure how Microsoft has worked out libraries and privileges in WP7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks CycloneZephyrxz7.
I want to develop for Windows Mobile 6.X for devices with WVGA resolution.
But with Mortscript I can do less things? Because I can only write scripts.
Do you know how is written a simple app like "ClearTemp"?
I wait other replies from Devolpers and people that used these languages...

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