Hi,
I have a fair background in various coding languages, and there are a couple of programs I want to try and build.
However, while I can usually pick up and understand a language quite easily the problem I usually find is a lack of knowledge of the objects available to make life easier and the functions which are available.
So far, I've sat around and got a setup which I think should allow me to write and compile WM5 applications and today plugins, but I have suddenly found I am missing that "thing" that made writing in other languages easier - effectively a "Cheat Sheet".
What I would appreciate from the other coders with experience in writing software for WM5 is a list of what windows or books you have open for reference when coding. Is it just MSDN, is there a specific page that you have bookmarked or do you just google for it every time?
Any further advice (like good compilers I might have missed) will also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
I'd like to hear from others too about this..
So far, My buddies for development help have been:
1. Search in MSDN
2. Search in Google
3. Ask on xda-developers
4. Search in MSDN forums and usenet groups for pocket pc developers
5. A book (that i dont refer to too often) whose name goes smthing like "Programming for Microsoft Windows CE .net" by Douglas Boling (Its not for .net development, it covers native development mostly. Windows CE .Net refers to a version of CE)
6. I also have another book that i have not even opened till now. It is solely for .net development (which is not my forte). Its by Wrox Publishers. If I remember the name correctly, it goes smthing like "Professional Microsoft Smartphone Programming"
There is an exellent documentation on .NET & Native Code on MSDN.
Then there are samples as well, again on MSDN.
For a today plugin, there is a very good sample by levenum which u can easily find in this section of the forum.
For me its always been google & this forum, no boooooks !!!
or
www.codeguru.com
in most cases programming for pocketpc's is like programming for pc's
Thanks for the replies guys. I see what you mean, MSDN is rather good. I was beginning to think it was just WM6, but I eventually found the section on WM5 (which I am planning on coding for given my phone is WM5). Their Wiki also had some good info on it too. Don't know whether these will be my coding buddies yet though....
shantzg001 said:
I'd like to hear from others too about this..
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I'm glad someone else is interested. TBH I am surprised there is not a sticky at the top of the forum with this information in or a link to the Wiki for further details, but I could only find details of Development Tools on the wiki.
shaileshashar said:
For a today plugin, there is a very good sample by levenum which u can easily find in this section of the forum.
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Thanks for this pointer. I found two (here and here) which look promising. Don't know if there are any I missed....
Just a small tip when searching in MSDN... add ce in the search pharse. For e.g., "ce WM_TIMER" will give you the CE related sessions at the top.
I like www.pocketpcdn.com - articles and code examples for Pocket PC and Smartphones arranged by categories.
Also www.codeproject.com has been helpfull at times.
Related
I've been lurking and reading the posts and I'm very impressed with the level of knowledge, willingness to help and general friendliness so I thought it's about time I said hello
I recently got an O2 XDA Exec with Rom 1.30.107 WWE, Rom Date 04/11/06, Radio 1.09.00, Protocol 42.42.P8, ExtRom 1.30.162 WWE
I set it up with minimal branding so there's only a little O2 stuff in there and I've not added any applications, generally I'm very happy with it
however basically it's a small PC or pda with a phone built in and among other things I'm a programmer (years out of practice but it still counts honest! ) I've had a trawl through the forum and can't seem to find the answers I'm looking for so I guess my first couple of questions are these
what tools do I need to write applications for this beastie ?
can the visual studio express suite thats free from M$ be used and if so has anyone else managed it ?
also as it's a windows system it's got a registry soooo....
can anyone recommend a good registry edit tool so I can have a look through the settings ?
and is there a list of registry tweaks anywhere (I'd like to stop the IE key going to pda.o2.co.uk and send it to my home page for a start)
needless to say I am not desperately rich so freeware is preferable to anything I have to pay for, but if I have to pay for something then it will recieve serious consideration
thank you in advance
Official info from Microsoft regarding development http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/developers/default.mspx
As for registry editing, one is as good as another in most cases. Personally I use Tascal Registry Editor http://www2r.biglobe.ne.jp/~tascal/download/pocketpc/tre.htm
And there's some good freeware here http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php but there are many more sites out there.
I'm using embedded visual c to do the job. other than me having difficulty getting hang of the GUI language (I came from DOS based C and Java), seems alright. It suppose the WM2003 SDK but doesn't seems to support the WM5 SDK.
ok thanks for the response so far
looks like I need visual studio 2005 if I want to write any apps according to Microsoft specially if I want to use the WM5 SDK although I've caught a reference to something called Pelles C from http://www.smorgasbordet.com/pellesc/ which is donationware i.e. free but they would like a donation and probably doesn't support the SDK but free is free
I'll check out the TRE registy editor too
thanks so far guys please keep 'em coming
YE GODS! VS2005 Basic costs more than I paid for the XDA !
I think I'm going to look a bit harder at this Pelles C doubrey
thank you AlanJC the registry editor works perfectly
modified HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\OEM\KEYBD\PieHomePage to my home page URL closed TRE and hit the IE button and lo and behold it went to my home page I am now officially a happy bunny
it would have been easier if TRE had a search function but again free is free so not complaining here
I'm a c# dev wanting to start developing for my phone (kaiser)
Wondered if you guys could point me in the right direction ..
would love any links to development resource websites?
would love to do something with my touchscreen
Google,
MSDN,
etc,
etc....
Rhapsody said:
Google,
MSDN,
etc,
etc....
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Click to collapse
thanks
theres a lot of crap out there and i was kind of hoping for more useful response than that
Hi cameronm,
I'm not a great PPC developer but I found that there were three things that helped me get started. First if you're a C# developer you have to understand how where the entry point of your program is and how to instansiate and start a new form.
- Microsoft.Net Mobile development Handbook (2007)
- MSDN has hundreds of PPC development examples....it may take you a little while to get to know your way around but it is really valuable.
- Developing for Smartphones (2007)
sorry I couldn't find the authors. I started beginning of November with absolutely no C# or PPC or VS2005 experience....only what I learned from TAFE with C++ and Java being my strong points.
Here's what I've learnt from those resources above.
Write a custom SMS program.
Create a custom call initiate program.
Create a custom email program.
Pocket Outlook Contacts managment
Picture resizing
Basic Animation
Splash Screens
Custom buttons with my images
Multiple form applications
Player for Embed Shockwave swf files
Recursive directory searching
Reading and Writing to files
Creating fullscreen applications
The list goes on....
Google the above and see how you go...
Regards,
Slither2006.
cameronm said:
thanks
theres a lot of crap out there and i was kind of hoping for more useful response than that
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Therefore I gave you this response. A developer can find the needed resources by searching. There are plenty of usefull resources out there.
Putting your question over here, sitting back and relax while waiting for an answer is not really the way to go, I think.
I don't say that you do this, but your post did not say anything else to me.
http://forums.microsoft.com , http://www.msdn.com
Rhapsody said:
Therefore I gave you this response. A developer can find the needed resources by searching. There are plenty of usefull resources out there.
Putting your question over here, sitting back and relax while waiting for an answer is not really the way to go, I think.
http://forums.microsoft.com , http://www.msdn.com
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i was merely asking a forum of developers what they considered to be decent resources for wm development .. on a dev and hacking forum .. seemed like a resonable question
cameronm said:
i was merely asking a forum of developers what they considered to be decent resources for wm development .. on a dev and hacking forum .. seemed like a resonable question
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If I look at your first post, I'm not very convinced.
But anyway; I'd like to visit the forums of MSDN: http://forums.microsoft.com
It has a special section for developing for devices.
Rhapsody said:
If I look at your first post, I'm not very convinced.
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We you oviously read more (or possibly less) into it than i intended.
i'm fully aware of the microsoft site ... i was more interested in places like codeproject etc but more geared towards pocket pc development where i can pick up examples, tips and read white papers on developing for the pocket pc ..
i just assumed that this would be an ideal place to ask ... i may well have been mistaken!!
most of the coding is general and c++ and c# code can be reused on pocketpc's
www.codeguru.com have some toturials i've linked to before about pocketpc today screen coding and the likes
Rudegar said:
most of the coding is general and c++ and c# code can be reused on pocketpc's
www.codeguru.com have some toturials i've linked to before about pocketpc today screen coding and the likes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks i'll take a look there
I wanted to start a new thread on a new piece of programming software that I recently purchased. I was looking for a programming language that was easy to use for beginners and experts. I own a Sprint HTC Touch and I wanted to make my own software to run on WM6. I have not completely messed with it but it sort of reminds me of MS Visual Basic with drag and drop and also code. If you want more info please follow this link: http://www.arianesoft.ca/page.php?1 . This software combines some of the most well known programming languages. I was hoping that there were other people who had and were also working with the same software and who had tips,tricks,source code and software using this programming software. I also forgot to mention that this software not only installs on you pc but also installs on you pocket pc so you can create software on the go. If there are any other languages out there like this please post. I hope this fits in this category.
Yes..this is a good language..i am familiar with it..it also lets you make Games....Visit their forums for sample apps
Been using PPL for a while now. Very good application and can actually produce some fast running apps.
Certainly wouldn't use it for a professional application, but for graphics/games, it's one of the best I've used.
Visual Studio have better compatibilities than PPL I think....
But, PPL is very easy to use and costs a lot less.
its funny but i even saw A_C's Post in their forum
I have a copy of one of A_Cs S2U2 source code from the PPL forums!
The one thing I like about PPL over Visual Basic (although I like VB)is that the software installs on my HTC Touch so I can program on the go. VB unfortunately does not. But with the drag and drop it looks just like VB
Hello,
in our company are a lot of Windows Mobile Devices in use. These should like our Client PC's listed in OCS Inventory.So, i'll try to develop a OCS Agent Client.
Functions needed:
-read out hardware Specs
-read out installed Software
-read out User Name
-send this Information over Port 80 to a Server
-nice to have: run as Service and auto send this information to the Server
Tools I've got:
-Visual Studio 2008
Skills I've got:
-writing c++ console apps
What I need:
-a Tip which programming-language I shoul use
-Some links where i can find the the functions in this language which I need
What I've done:
-search in xda-developers.com
-search in MSDN(but I don't know which language i should use)
-wrote small (stupid) apps like an calculator for ppc in visual basic as little test
-I tried to do the same in visual c++ -> without any good product, i don't know how to make a gui for the functions.
I hope you can help me, espacially in the language thing.
Thanks,
Flo
some good reads about many of your questions
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=245426&highlight=develop
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=225177&highlight=develop
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=349808&highlight=coding
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=269142&highlight=coding
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=226603&highlight=coding
Thanks a lot!
I think I'll try to use Visual Basic.
One Question further: where I can find the Commands I need to read out the Information out of the Device.
Hi,
VB was good for the first steps, but after reading in msdn i decided to use Visual c#(a can use c++ although but i think c# is better for this!?) instead.
So, registry Values i can read out. But all the other stuff....I don't know how to get this out. "You should use the API functions" i read every where, but that helps no step. I don't know which API and i don't know how to speak with it.
I hope you can give me some Tips or links.
Thanks
thanks for your help so far *:-/
IMEI,Owner,Hardware(bluetooth,Phone,Wifi,Camera) is detected....
My Problem now is: CPU Speed
I didn't found a registry entry with the Speed in it, so i need another function. Some ideas?
Im using C#...
One more Question:
Where the "Settings->System->Deviceinformation->Hardware"-Window gets its Information from?
Hope someone will answer.
Thanks.
Is there anything, besides codeproject, that has a repository for source code for windows mobile 5/6/6.1? I am looking for something similar to planetsourcecode.com/.net so I can learn from sourcecode.
Also, is there any development tool I can use to program today plugins besides Visual studio? I know of basic4ppc. But anything else? Anything similar to appforge out there?
Try embedded Visual C++/Basic from the MS Websites. (it's free)
...or ic#code if you intend to write managed code. Hey moderators what about a new forum here in XDA for open source code / class libraries / etc for windows mobile and HTC devices?
jdiperla said:
Is there anything, besides codeproject, that has a repository for source code for windows mobile 5/6/6.1? I am looking for something similar to planetsourcecode.com/.net so I can learn from sourcecode.
Also, is there any development tool I can use to program today plugins besides Visual studio? I know of basic4ppc. But anything else? Anything similar to appforge out there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recently went through this when making Manilla2D Customizer.
I found a lot of very useful information at the pocket pc developers network http://www.pocketpcdn.com/
Code project also has quite a few decent articles
When you get truly stuck with a problem the community over at stackoverflow.com will usually have an answer for you
Feel free to download the source for M2DC at http://code.google.com/p/manilla2dcustomizer/downloads/detail?name=M2DC_v0.11.133-src.zip&can=1&q=
As far as development tools... I was unable to find anything I was happy with other than Visual Studio. Microsoft has a 90 day trial of Visual Studio 2008 Professional for free download... and that is what I have been using for M2DC, it has worked well for me, but I know in 2 months I need to buy the full version (nearly $700 ) or convince my employer or contracting employer to buy it for me ( )
good luck
I have a similar issue. I can code command line, I am just bad at picking the "correct" compiler, worse at setting it up and I don't really care for Visual coding and IDEs (am perfectly happy with Notepad or Nano).
I was surprised that there is no sticky on these forums, not even in the roll-up, that discusses "recommended" tools (or available combinations) for writing mobile applications.
The only one I am aware of is Visual Studio et al described on MS' site here -
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windowsmobile/bb264337.aspx
Now, obviously, I don't really like spending money, especially if I can do it for free (and legally, obviously), so I was pleasently surprised when I found that MS gives their tools away to students -
https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/Products.aspx
So this gets Visual Studio (I elected for 2005 rather than 2008) and the rest of the tools as a developer environment. I just installed all of this and it seems to be working ok with minimum fuss, so I shall be bastardising some MS sample project in the near future to create a template program and then I should be away....
Beyond that, there's the option of embedded visual c++ 4 (download and service pack 4). Only problem was getting this to compile properly (as I said, I have problems with getting compilers to work. They a nemesis of mine, along with printers).
If there are other options (like ic#code, gcc etc...) that are also easy to set up, but not attached to Microsoft, I would love to be told about them especially if there is a walk-through about how to put the pieces in the right place or an IRC channel I can ask silly questions in (like what .
If you don't require C++, check out PellesC.
It's very straightforward to get it up and going, it's using lcc modified compiler.