how to start programming for ppc?

[sarann1574]

Hi folks -

I have some experience programming in linux in C/C++ but would like to try writing something for my axim. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Obviously I'm a complete neophyte to the windows programming world...

thanks!
Sara

[Magadin]

Check out the following site:

Devbuzz

They seem to have a mulititude of information on what you are looking for. I am considering trying to get into this as well when I have the time.

Hope this helps...

[cmcFilms]

The first thing I would do (even before DevBuzz) is get the Embedded Tools from Microsoft. They are a free download.

DevBuzz is a great site to get lots of samples and articles. It is primarily a VB site (from what I've found).

MSDN has quite a few articles with sample code for both eVB and EVC.

Also, the Microsoft site is really starting to gear itself towards .NET, so it may be worthwhile to at least read about that. I'd start with the free embedded tools first, though.

[sarann1574]

thanks!! I appreciate the suggestions and now at least know where to start (Hello World!!)

The M$ embedded tools are extremely large. You have to borrow a darned fast internet connection to download them. I had to download them at work and put them on a CD. Also they are real picky about the desktop computer that they will work on. I found that they would not work on my desktop computer.

There are some independent languages that you might consider-

1) PocketC is a small program that is relatively inexpensive, and you can easily download a trial version of it.

2) NSBasic seems to be a full-featured language but is more expensive.

[cmcFilms]

v8sho -

How do you like those two languages - have you used them at all? I had heard about PocketC, but I really haven't tried it out yet. I was just wondering if there were any good reasons to try these languages (besides internet connection speed restrictions, and other non-language related issues).

I got the PocketC trial but have not had enough time to play with it so far. Some of the included sample programs would run on my Axim and some wouldn't.

With the M$ tools there is a steep learning curve, not so much for the language as for just getting the whole setup installed, configured, and running. I dread trying to install their embedded tools on my desktop computer. PocketC just installs and goes with no muss or fuss.

I guess it depends on the size of programs that you want. I forgo some niceties for my own programs since I am more interested in getting a result than creating a pretty application. I thought PocketC would do that for me.

OTOH, M$ has the momentum and the power, so in the long haul their products will beat out the competition.

[Robert Byers]

Anyone who might be looking for an alternative Microsoft development environment, or who is just interested in programming languages, might want to check out PocketAPL from Dyalog APL Ltd. PocketAPL is a new product for the Pocket PC and is available from Handango for only $40.00 (US). PocketAPL can be used to develop full-featured Pocket PC applications using the APL programming language. It installs just like any other PocketPC application so it is easy set up and get up and running quickly. Code developed in PocketAPL is fully compatable with so their Windows development product, sold separately. The full Windows version, called Dyalog APL/W, is a .NET compatable programming language so I suspect that PocketAPL will work with the .NET compact framework when the framework becomes widely available on Pocket PCs. However, even without this support, you can do just about any kind of programming project you can think of with this product on your Pocket PC.

PocketAPL does require a a Pocket PC running PocketPC 2002 and I requires at least 32MB of RAM.

For more information and examples, check out the developer's website at http://www.dyalog.com. They have a link on their site to Handango should you decide to purchase PocketAPL.

If you are going to go the Embedded tools route and are new to Windows programming I would suggest getting a Windows programming book. I got MFC From the Ground Up ver. 2.0. Don't rember the author right now, but it was very detailed. Started you out with simple programs not using the built in wizards so that you could understand what all the code was for. Then towards the end of the book it explains the wizards and how they work and how they make life easier.

If you already understand C/C++ making the move to Windows/event type programming is too difficult. I never programmed for the desktop, but I was up and going in less than a week for my ppc application.

As for installing the dev tools. The only issue that I experienced was if you try to install the PPC 2002 SDK and you don't have Win 2K or WinXP. If you don't then it won't install, but it does clearly state this on the web site. Other than that, the rest of the SDKs and the actual development tools will install without a hitch. It takes up quite a bit of space though. One last thing is that if you are running Win98 then the emulators will not work and you will have to download all the apps to your ppc in order to test them, but if you have Win 2K or WinXP then you can use the emulators to do your development.

Hope that helps,
-Eric

[bdiscount]

I have an Axim X50v and APL it wouldn't install without freezing up they fixed that but now the wdesigner goes haywire and they are working on that for the last week or so. I understand it is ok on older versions of Axim

[as77]

If you want to be a hardcore programmer for Pocket PC and Windows Mobile, this is the book you need:

Douglas Boling: Programming Windows CE.NET, 3rd edition

(note: contrary to what the title suggests, this book is not about the .NET framework; it is about programming using the win32 API, which is the most powerful solution for developers.)

[Cross_]

Getting started with PPC programming is not as straight-forward as it ought to be. Certain tools only work for certain projects.
If you want to write in C/C++:
- for PPC 2002 use eVC3 plus 2002 SDK plus Service Pack (free)
- for PPC 2003 use eVC4 plus 2003 SDK plus Service Pack (free)
If you want to write in C# using .NET
- use Visual Studio .NET (commercial)

The good news is that eVC3/4 and the required SDK/SPs are freely available somewhere on Microsoft's MSDN pages. Just search for them. You _must_ download the latest Service Packs and the appropriate SDK. In total you will need to download ca. 400MB and the installation is not simple. Once it's all set-up though it's very easy to use if you are familiar with Win32 or MFC programming.

www.pocketpcdn.com and usenet are your best places to look for help.