Database Users

New Programmer (Maybe)

Hi to all,
i'm new in xda\xda2 world...and i would like to develop under it? What i need for developing? What cpu type\model it have?

Well.. The About and Device Information screens in the System Settings menu should take care of your questions..
But if you're lazy, the XDA typically runs PocketPC 2002 on a StrongArm CPU, and the XDA II PocketPC 2003 (Windows Mobile Edition) on an Intel XScale (which is backwards compatible with ARM).
If you simply visit www.pocketpc.com and click on developers you'll end up at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/information/devprograms/default.mspx
Where you can even order a free DVD-Rom with the PocketPC SDKs, compilers etc (they will charge shipping and handling, at a freakishly high rate). You can also download that stuff.
However, you will need Visual Studio .NET as well, which is not a free download (in fact, even the academic version will set you back more than EUR 100).
I've not ventured into it myself yet, so it's quite possible you can actually do without Visual Studio (as the compilers themselves can be downloaded). Also, there's a version of gcc for pocketpc.
Any one developing for pocketpc who wants to chip in here? (I'd like to toy around with programming a bit on PPC - regretably it doesn't have a built-in scripting language like epoc32 has/had).

You only need Visual Studio .NET if you want to create .NET applications. If you are just programming in C++, I'd highly recommend downloading Embedded Visual Studios 3 and 4 and get the appropriate SDKs (all of which are free). At least, that's what I use.

What about Java Midlets?
I am thinking on writing a couple of apps for PPC, but going into VS.NET might be too deep for me. I also want to extend those later for palm and maybe desktop. No hardware specific stuff so I thought I might get away with Java which I am pretty good at.
Does anyone have anything to say - pros / cons? How midlets are on O2 in general - fast / slow, too much memory or processing power? Please share.

Why don't you get down to c++? Fast, small, general support...
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У нас сегодня день вежливости, так что вы просто идите за мной и никуда не сворачивайте!

Some day
Good old C++. Too many years with Java - softened my mind... Undoubtedly C++ is the best way to go in terms of speed and size. Lets see what people say. :idea:

I've been programming in Visual .NET (VB.NET more specifically), but even after installing the SDK I have no idea where to start? When creating a project, I don't see any new project type for Pocket PC applications ? In fact, what else do I need to do if I want to program in VB.NET ?

i read that visualstudio .net 2005 will be able to make pocketpc applications in all languages not just .net applications like 2003
not sure about how you get started with vb.net since vb is very evil and nasty
but with c++ mfc and c# .net you start out with a form and there you can place components on it and program what functions they have
but if you want to make games and stuff which dont use normal windows stuff then you are better off programming them in c++ directly for the arm platform

I use Embedded VC++ and MFC as it's far tighter/smaller than .net. Purists can go completely Win32(ce) native and avoid MFC altogether but MFC does make development a good deal easier without the bloat of .net (not to mention how slow it is..).

Same thing for me. C++ with EVC tools. No mfc for me (a little purist and feel it gives a clearer code )
Best way to have samller and optimize applications

I've been programming in Visual .NET (VB.NET more specifically), but even after installing the SDK I have no idea where to start? When creating a project, I don't see any new project type for Pocket PC applications ? In fact, what else do I need to do if I want to program in VB.NET ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have VS.NET 2003 you don't even need the SDK.
just File-> New->Project
on the left column "Project Types" choose your language and on the right click the "Smart Device Application"
Basically is like any windows application but less possibilities and if you want to create any serious application you'll have to do a lot of optimization and native coding.
Good luck

Books?
I'm also interested in programming with Embedded VC++...and was wondering if anyone know of books out there I can pick up that will help my learning process a little quicker. Its been a long time since i coded in C++ and need to refresh.
The part I'm really need help is the basic parts ...like how to get things started.
I'm confident that once I get started i'll start to remember my C++ coding.
I'm downloading the Embedded VC++ from Microsoft as I type this post ...hope it wont be too hard to understand how to create a simple "hello world" program for PPC devices
Also if anyone knows a good web sites with code samples ...please PM or post the URL, I'v seen some but not all that great
Thank You

Sometimes less is more.......
zendrui said:
Same thing for me. C++ with EVC tools. No mfc for me (a little purist and feel it gives a clearer code )
Best way to have samller and optimize applications
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As mentioned above, if you drop ATL, MFC .NET and all the implied baggage they have to bring with them to work, you are left with the old WIN32 programming model. This is now considered very 'old hat', but if all your program uses are API's in WIN32's kernel.dll, user.dll, gdi.dll etc...... i.e. the very primative windows stuff, then it is possible to write an application that will run on any version of Windows Mobile. This application will be pretty simple, but the compiled .EXE file targetted at an ARM4xx model will run on almost any Pocket PC, without any other files. (i.e. The single APP.EXE file will run on any upwardly compatable system, no fancy implementation project to create or run, just copy the release '.exe' file to the target machine, and it will run!). These days 99%+ mobile PDA's run ARM class processors. The manufacturers call them by their own processor IDs but under the hood they are all the same.
To create an app that will run on the Mobile 5/6 platform without looking like previous Mobile 2002/3/SE apps, limit the Main menu items to two. This will make sure they appear either side of the input icon, as menu items. More than two and the Mobile 5/6 menu items appear as 2002/3/SE apps in the old control bar style.

wfberg said:
(I'd like to toy around with programming a bit on PPC - regretably it doesn't have a built-in scripting language like epoc32 has/had).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as scripting goes... I'm a big fan of Mortscript. It's so simple... I guess I'm a little purist myself

Basic 4PPC
Basic for Pocket PC, has anyone tried this. I went to the site and it only cost around 40.00 US. I've worked with "basic" before and the progs were usually bloated and sluggish. Wonder if this would be the same.

i have started developing in ppl language the program name is PIDE from ariana soft..its very easy..it also lets u make games
ive created my first clock in it

Free IDE SharpDevlop for Mobiles

Hello,
is there a free IDE for .net Programming on WM 2003 PhoneEdition using C#?
I have Visual Studio 2003 Express Edition...and the SDK is downloading...
eVC 4.00 is running but i thing .net is better...and more convinient
It woud be nice a link list with items i need for this.
Perhaps use the SharpDevelop IDE for Creation this Apps?
Thx

SharpDevelop is not really working with .NET CF. There is a workaround but it is a mess, you can't use GUI for making forms and such, do a search on their site and wiki. While .NET might be convenient, I suggest you to learn C++ and use EVC++4 and possibly MFC; native apps is the way to go under PPC, especially since .NET apps tends to be slow (and you can't do some stuff in .NET either).

Evc++ I cant get the SRC Files for this example CTapiConnec
Hello,
hmm yes i can use evc++, i have tested it and it works fine.
Creating a Standard Dialog based app no "beginning" Problems...
BUT
I want to use the tapi do make a call. Ok MS has a CallIt sample on Homepage and some post in this Forum...
I cant get the SRC Files for this example CTapiConnection
defined in TAPIUTILS.H
And reimplement this again is mutch work...i tried it but many compiler errors after 20 Fixes i give it up.
Where can i download it? Or only for MSDN Subscribers?
And the issue about looking what is included in .h Files

Getting Started - Which Development Tools?

I'm sure I can learn a lot of this at microsoft.com --
Which compiler and add-ons do you install to get started with writing apps in VB and VC?
Are the only tools VB.Net and VC# ?

Phoney said:
I'm sure I can learn a lot of this at microsoft.com --
Which compiler and add-ons do you install to get started with writing apps in VB and VC?
Are the only tools VB.Net and VC# ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should forget .NET under Pocket PC...it is painfully slow. The only option is C++, which for you can use either the free Embedded Visual C++ 4, or Visual Studio 2005.

Thanks!
And does this mean that I should forget about using Visual Basic for anything as well?

Phoney said:
Thanks!
And does this mean that I should forget about using Visual Basic for anything as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed... eVB is not supported on WM5 anyways (at least not officially...and eVB is not too powerful either).

Agree with KTamas! For now, VS2005 is the BEST tool perhaps.

is ws2005 also mfc and win32 stk or only .net like 2003 was ?

Hi Rudegar!
VS2005 works with MFC and Win32 for both PC and mobile devices. It also claims to support WM2003 SDKs but I was unable to compile an exe with it that would run on a 2003 device (although I tried adding WM2003 SDK to an existing WM5 project so maybe I just go the settings wrong)

Yes, vs2005 do support pure WIN32 programming in WM2003, I wrote two or more app for PPC-6600, it works fine.

Isn't C# compiled during first execution (it takes time, so startup is long) and then it's as fast as C++?

Marx2 said:
Isn't C# compiled during first execution (it takes time, so startup is long) and then it's as fast as C++?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. It starts up slowly cause it has to load the Compact Framework into the memory. .NET (therefore C# included) apps are compiled while they are running, they are running on a JIT-compiler (Just-in-Time).

Instead of MFC, I recommend using the Windows Template Library (WTL) -- it's a set of C++ template classes for Windows UI elements, and is CE-friendly. I've used it on big Windows for many years; IMHO it's much better than MFC.

Isn't effect of JIT compiler cached?
I think JVM can do that. There is also an option to compile permamentaly to exe (this lacks portability)

Beginner's pointers?

Hi chaps,
I've just got myself an O2 XDA Orbit - great device, and now I'm looking for developing for it - just simple things at first, like a Blackjack game, or a simple Today feature with the sun and moon times on it; this sort of thing.
I've got Visual Studio .NET 2003, but I see that in order to program the latest devices, you need VS 2005 (?). So, I've downloaded Embedded Visual Studio C++ v4 with all the SDK's and I'm hoping to develop for an earlier version of Windows Mobile, and hope that it works.
So while I've got all that, I'm now stuck as to where to start! Can anyone point me to a good book, or something online which will help me through a simple CE application? How you do get the Today screen working, for example? I realise that this might be asking a lot, but a couple of pointers would be great - if you could!
Many thanks,
MrP.

I'm just starting out myself with windows mobile programming. You can find a lot of info from msdn. Here is an example Hello app.
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms912017.aspx
You can find a lot of good stuff at the code project site also.
http://www.codeproject.com/ce/
eVC has wizards that will get you going. One thing I found out about using eVC is that you won't be able to debug your programs on a WM5/6 device since the SDK's are not compatible with them. It can be a bit of a challenge to fix bugs without a debugger. I can't get the debugger to work with the emulator either for some reason.
A question for other eVC developers out there. Is it possible to use the emulator to debug programs or do you all have an old PPC2003 device that you use to do your debugging? Or have you all moved on to VS2005?

I've bought visual studio 2005 standard and it is great - it fully supports WM5/6 (with sdk) and runtime debugging - for .exe it works well but I have problems with .dll - I can't debug dll files - does anyone know how to make it?

Pleas look up threads started by vijay555.
He wrote a comprehensive article on the tools and possibilities to begin developing for these devices.
Just as a quick side note:
There is no need what so ever to pay M$ money for VS 2005 if you want to develop in C / C++.
Apps written in eVC++ 4 will work perfectly with WM 5 and 6 and if you need any missing API (not many of those) you have 2 choices:
1) Manually unpack the SDK and link to it.
2) Use implicit linking (that LoadLibrary and GetProcAdress).

levenum said:
Pleas look up threads started by vijay555.
He wrote a comprehensive article on the tools and possibilities to begin developing for these devices.
Just as a quick side note:
There is no need what so ever to pay M$ money for VS 2005 if you want to develop in C / C++.
Apps written in eVC++ 4 will work perfectly with WM 5 and 6 and if you need any missing API (not many of those) you have 2 choices:
1) Manually unpack the SDK and link to it.
2) Use implicit linking (that LoadLibrary and GetProcAdress).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry about the delay in replying...
Many thanks for the pointers.. Just a matter of starting now!

Windows Mobile Development Tools?

Hi all!
So, I've decided to finally take the plunge and start developing for Windows Mobile proper. Flash can finally get the flick
But, what do I need? Visual Studio 2005? Because I don't have/can't afford that, and it seems as though the Express editions aren't supported.
I like C# as a language, and would like to further learn it.
So: What do I need?
Mods: Wasn't sure if this was the right place, move it if you want
Girvo

Girvo said:
Hi all!
So, I've decided to finally take the plunge and start developing for Windows Mobile proper. Flash can finally get the flick
But, what do I need? Visual Studio 2005? Because I don't have/can't afford that, and it seems as though the Express editions aren't supported.
I like C# as a language, and would like to further learn it.
So: What do I need?
Mods: Wasn't sure if this was the right place, move it if you want
Girvo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in vs 05/08 (at least pro version), select create project>VB or C# >> smart device.... and ya... u need wm emulator that can be dl from ms web site....

you could try Basic4PPC (search for it on the web). I'm using it and I am very pleased with it. It has a good price and nice support and an excellent forum.
BTW: the applications you write will need the NET.framework installed on the PPC.
Rgds,
/tilleke

There is also
- PellesC (it's c) but it's a very good ide with some tools very usefull.
- SharpDevelop (v2.2) an open source ide for C# (and VBNet). In the "new solution" dialog select "Compact Framework")
Hope this help you

I suggest some free developing tools:
1. CeGCC: Free and open source developoing tools, gcc. Can be used in Linux and Windows(Cygwin)
2. Mamaich's Pocket GCC: Free and open source. gcc, used in Pocket PC.
3. EVC++ 4.0, Free but closed source. Download free M$.

SharpDevelop is what I seem to want. It's a nice IDE! Wrote a twitter client for my PC with it in about 20 minutes last night
BUT:
I can't install the WinMo 6 SDK without Visual Studio. Do I need the SDK?

There's a good documentation on installing the emulators:
http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/09/17/447033.aspx

I'm writting an application for work in c# compact framework. It's really a PITA. So much isn't in the compact framework. Go check out opennetcf. It has some very useful libraries. Also it's a bummer but all the cool stuff needs to be done in native language.

helloworld1 said:
I suggest some free developing tools:
1. CeGCC: Free and open source developoing tools, gcc. Can be used in Linux and Windows(Cygwin)
2. Mamaich's Pocket GCC: Free and open source. gcc, used in Pocket PC.
3. EVC++ 4.0, Free but closed source. Download free M$.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pocket c# is also a free choice.

Pascal via Lazarus is another free alternative.
http://snapshots.lazarus.shikami.org/lazarus/ has the wince package
and there is a discussion forum at http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/i...rum&f=17&sid=afea0e515f0090fef3aaee9c84fe72cf
Takes some time setting it up properly. But once done, it's a great environment, and the programming is very similar to c#. The programs seem to run faster on my phone, than the c# programs I've made.

Some good posts in here guys, keep it up
Still haven't found a solution to the SDK installation problem
Also: What should I be using to develop Today Screen plugins?