What's the best development language for XDA II - Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General

Greetings from Ireland,
About a year or two I did some development for PocketPC 2002 using eVB [no sniggering ] but now want to start dabbeling in PPC2003. What options do I have as far as development enviornments go. I'd prefare not to have to fork out over €1000 for Visual Studio .NET but don't mind paying €100 or €200 for a decent package.
I'd also prefare not to use eVC4++ but will as a last resort.
So basically.... What tools to you guys and/or girls use and what do you think of them?
Sorry if this question has been asked before, but I couldn't find it if it was.
Regards
Keith Burke
Dublin, Ireland.

I use C++ and EVC4.
This stays, in my opinion, the best way to develop application for embedded platform. The c++ allows you to optimize correctly and to have little footprints ...
EVB must be, of course, forgotten as it is slow and requires runtime.
.Net is a way but as you tell, you have to pay the dev environment ... and it is (still in my opinion ) more big and less easy to optimize...
It also depends on your application...

The best?
Of course - Visual Studio .NET

I use Visual Studio and .Net

.net is not a language it's a platform
.net can be program'd from both vb, asp, c++, and c#
personaly i would never use anything else then c++ or maybe c#
but of cause people are difference

I've uploaded GCC compiler which can build console/GUI WinCE applications, and DLLs:
http://mamaich.kasone.com/fr_pocket.htm
There are 2 versions: Windows (needs CygWin installed) and native PocketPC (idea and name is taken from PGCC project, but we use different compiler versions and runtime). There are some examples in pgcc.rar (dll, console and gui apps, SDL example).
I've successfully compiled DosBox, Bochs and several other open-source projects with this compiler.

If you want to do .NET development but don't want to pay take a look at http://www.icsharpcode.net/OpenSource/SD/
Jamie

well thats not for pocketpc is it ?
but while we are at it
http://www.go-mono.com/
if you want to develop c# using .net for linux
but they have a version which works on windows aswell

As long as you stick to the compact framework, any .NET app will run on the PocketPC even if it was aimed at the desktop . . . . .
Jamie

Having said that I've just tried making an app in Sharp Develop and it doesn't seem to want to run on my XDAII.
I have made a desktop app in Visual Studio .NET and run it on the XDAII before so I'm sure it is possible!
Jamie

also have a look to NS basic
www.nsbasic.com

I use C++ and eVC4, on top of it, I use WTL7.1
Much easier to program using WTL then native win32 api and without the trouble of MFC

Related

Tools required for programming Pocket PC?

It's been years since I finished college (Passed exams with VB4 / 5) - been using VB6 for quite some time no too, recently bought an XDA2 and would like to develop some software for it to achieve a few tasks of mine - I'm not onboard the .NET boat yet (I am planning an update course at college soon to get me up to speed) - in the interim what tools can be used to develop for the PocketPC platform?
Many thanks in advance!
visual studio .net 2003 you can choose vb smart device application
not sure if it's using .net since i havent don any vb since 94 and dont plan to again
or embedded visual c++ if you can do c++ and pure win32 pocket or MFC
Rudegar said:
visual studio .net 2003 you can choose vb smart device application
not sure if it's using .net since i havent don any vb since 94 and dont plan to again
or embedded visual c++ if you can do c++ and pure win32 pocket or MFC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I studied C++ and did quite well with it at college, not used it in the 'real world' though, nor have I for quite some time! I use VB for work so I'd rather stick with that. Looks like I'd best get my derriere into .net sharpish!
Cheers.
You can use embedded VB with the Microsoft Embedded Visual Tools - obtainable here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...48-31ee-4cbe-aac5-0affd5fb27dd&displaylang=en
Applications developed with embedded VB would require runtime libraries to be installed on the device.
Of course, this has been superceded by the .NET Compact Framework model which is being pushed heavily by Microsoft.
Personally, I prefer to use embedded C++ because an awful lot of what I want to do is not supported by the .NET Compact Framework.

XDA Data Driven Application Architecture - Language choice

Hi
Similar to the GPS upload thread, I am interested in writing an app to talk to TomTom5 SDK (maybe with or without the TTNC Java/VB wrapper), and upload the data to a Web service.
I am primariliy a Java developer, but have found very little about Java support the XDA... I need to develop for XDA T-Mobile MDA HTC Blue Angel - O/S WME 2002/2003. ..
I have trawled the forums and read a couple of mentions of Java, but nothing conclusive as to what the current situation is with regards to support VM's etc..
Can anyone clarify:
a) What are the supported JVM's
b) If none, what other languages are being used to develop the apps? (is it just VB .NET?)
:?:
java support
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=19415&highlight=java
http://www.ewesoft.com/Downloads/Downloads.html
other languages you can use
c#
c++
both are miles ahead of vb imho
Hiya
I do a lot of work with TomTom and it's SDKs, originally using embedded VB and now C#. One thing to note... I don't think the TTTNCF wrapper for the TT5 SDK (I assume this is the wrapper you mean?!) will work with Java! As far as I'm aware it's .NET only - tho that said I haven't had time to play with the new TT5 version yet :roll:
C# or Java
Hi
Yes I am guessing I only need the TTNC wrapper if I am using .NET because if I use Ewe Java, I can talk straight Java to the TomTom SDK, is that your understanding? (I think the SDK is Java)...
Can I ask why you chose C# over Java/Ewe ?
and also, if I choose to develop using .NET C#, can I talk to a Java web service (ie. Axis published)? or do I have to talk to a Microsoft .NET published Web Service?
:shock:
ms hate java so java is much much more limited on the mw platform
even more limited in many ways then on a normal nokia cellphone
dont know if the tomtom sdk is java but it's odd if it is because normaly pocketpc's dont have java support unless you install 3th party software
so unless tomtom include a JVM then it's not java

development environment?

hi
i was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of some decent but free development tools for wm5
thanks
embedded visual c++
you can also get free compilers like gcc and a .net compiler which run on the pocketpc itself
but it's hardly en ide
Depends on what language you want to code. For instance I couldn't find a decent assembly IDE yet (free or not). For C++/C# (managed and unmanaged) VS2005 is probably still the best. And the epxress versions can be obtained for free. Integration of embedded stuff would have to be done manually, I guess.
well i prefer programming in c/c++ so are there any free tools/IDEs for it?
don't i have to pay for embedded vc++ or is there a free version that lets me program for wm5?
oh and i downloaded the express c++ but when i want to instal the wm5 sdk it tells me it needs visual studio 2005
PSPad is awsome, and free.
Regards,
Jason
hey thanks for the reply but that's not for windows mobile 5 development
i really need something free for windows mobile 5 development
if anyone could help i would appreciate it
thanks
Ok little clarification:
a) You don't need WM5 SDK to develop apps that will run on WM5 and use its special features. You will just have to work a little harder and use LoadLibrary and GetProcAdress for functions not supported in WM2003. Also you can manually unpack the SDK installation and use the binaries and header files (this is VJ's advice I have yet to test it).
b) There is no version of eVC for WM5 because MS switched to Visual Studio. The express version does not support mobile development in any way. I always use eVC 4 this not only works fine for WM5 apps but also insures backward compatibility and saves me keeping two separate projects for one app.
I agree with levenum, as ever.
You don't NEED VS2005 if you're only developing in C++ (which you should be). I don't think VS2005 offers enough over EVC for me to spend a gazillion $$ on it as a hobby programmer. However, you can get VS2005 on trial for free from MS if you feel the need to try it out.
Also - EVC only requires a small number of mbs of space (great to stick on a USB). VS2005 is > 1gb from memory
V
thank you for your replies
i will do as you suggested
thanks
one last question:
does anyone know if there is an SDL sdk for wm5?
if not then any links to wm5 programming tutorials?
wajih.boukaram said:
one last question:
does anyone know if there is an SDL sdk for wm5?
if not then any links to wm5 programming tutorials?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
here
Regards,
Jason
Hi,
There is an open source IDE for .net that supports (v2.2.1 only) the compact framework 2.0 : http://www.icsharpcode.net/OpenSource/SD/.
I'm using it for windows coding and it's a very good soft.
Regards,
Imer

want to start ppc programming !

Hello people. I see lot of you make very nice programs for ppc's, so now also want to try with it. I have experiences in programming windows application with JAVA and C# (.NET using visual studio).
But if i want to programming for windows mobile, which software do i need to use, and can anyone give me some beginner guide? I preferred to work with C# or JAVA.
Thanks in advance.
Kay.
KayDK said:
Hello people. I see lot of you make very nice programs for ppc's, so now also want to try with it. I have experiences in programming windows application with JAVA and C# (.NET using visual studio).
But if i want to programming for windows mobile, which software do i need to use, and can anyone give me some beginner guide? I preferred to work with C# or JAVA.
Thanks in advance.
Kay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use Visual Studio 2005 to develop in C#.
You can use EWE (www.ewesoft.com) to develop in Java.
You can use the (free) Microsoft C# compiler itself and compile using the GAC libraries on your device (take a look at this topic).
You can use eMbedded Visual C++ or eMbedded Visual Basic, but I think it's better to use C# if possible.
As you see, there are many choices.
If you have experience with C#, however, I suggest you to start using Visual Studio 2005 and move to the C# compiler (if you have licensing problems) after you learnt the differences between the .NET Framework and the .NET Compact Framework. This way you can benefit of a RAD environment such as Visual Studio while using your knowledge of C#.
If you want more specific information about some WM-specific features, just check the Internet. I think the most important features are the PIM (and, consequently, the Pocket Outlook Object Model also known as POOM), the Comm Manager and the SIP (Soft Input Panel... the virtual keyboard). Should you need to interact with ActiveSync you should also check the Remote API (RAPI) of Windows CE.
The MSDN Library is also a great reference if you need information about Windows Mobile API's. When you'll need to use these API's into C#, take a look at www.pinvoke.net.

Developing WM6 without CompactFramework??

Hi @ll codejunkies
i want to start developing/programming without the .NET CompactFramework for our WM5/WM6 Devices..
Till now, i used Visual Studio 2005, but i think with .NET the program is only "interpreted". Now i want to compile a program that don´t need the Framework for .NET.
So my question: Which Programming Languages are available to develop this "real" exe-Programs?? and what GUIs and Compilers i can use for it?
thanxx 2 @ll
The only real option without using runtime libraries such as the .NET framework is C++.
Is therefor a SDK?
You use the same SDK you were using all along. Infact, you can even use the same Visual Studio you were using all along. Just select Visual C++ on project type, and select smart device solution, and you're ready to go! . You'll have to have extensive use of the win32 api to get started though. The basics are EXACTLY the same as the desktop version.
on the microsoft Homepage i found out, that the SKD for WM6 only support .NET???
how can i then develop and compile then to native code, without use .NET Framework????
nEuDy said:
on the microsoft Homepage i found out, that the SKD for WM6 only support .NET???
how can i then develop and compile then to native code, without use .NET Framework????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The SDK supports C++ as well. Visit the MSDN site for technical documentation.
nuEdy: It`s not true, SDK has tools and documetation for managed and of course native development.
As mentioned above. Embedded C++ version 4.0. Free download from the Microsoft website. Compiles for the WM 2003 SE platform SDK included in this download. Without .NET you will have to use the standard WIN32 application model, responding to WM_XXXXXX messages via WIN32 API calls. If you haven't done this before, you will have a long hard slog to master it, but the results are worth it. Start by looking at the code created by the hello world app until you understand what the hell is going on. Release .EXEs can be run directly under the WM6 SDK as this is a true ARM emulator, not the half way x86 code used by the 2003 SE SDK.
Stick to two menubar items and WM6 will display them either side of the keyboard icon as per WM6 Apps. More than two and the menubar appears in WM2002/3 mode.

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