Develop Bugs

Linux on Pocket PC

Hi all,
I ask this question cuz I counldn't find enough information about How to install Linux on my PPC.
My ppc is: I-teq X-bond like as Gigabyte gsmart i. with 64MB ROM.
Is there any linux ROM distribution for my ppc? or general linux ROM distribution for PPCs?
Thanks in advance.
Pedram

The reason you could not find information is because there isn't much of it to be found.
Unfortunately, Linux for PPC is in its infancy. The main problem is the drivers - they all need to be reverse engineered and there is no help from the OEMs as they designed this things to only work with MS crap and seem to have no interest in releasing drivers or specifications.
Official reason: Because you can not mess with the OS the device is more stable and secure.
Real reason: If you need to by new phone to get new OS we make more $$$ and so does MS.
As far as I heard there is a half decent version for some iPaq model, and there is version for some HTC devices (check WiKi) but all it does is boot up: no drivers even for touch screen, no graphical interface, no apps.

Thnx levelnum.
I think if linux developers I mean open source world focus on handheld devices they can publish good distribution as desktop or laptop PCs. Today they are very powerful in reverse engineering, .NET Framework in Linux named MONO is one of these reverse engineering issues.
I believe that Linux is much more customizable that WM, especially for XDA-developers that make interesting works on WM. And also it doesn't have copyright restriction as WM has. So may be it makes many progress in world of handheld devices.

Oddly enough I was looking for Linux on Smartphone info yesterday as I've got an Alpine I'd like to be able to do something interesting with.
Demand for something like this is going to be a bit odd - by definition anyone who finds this site, let alone opens an account and posts, is going to be interested in pushing the boundaries of their device but the vast majority of WM device users are going to be in the "don't care how it works as long as it does" group.
Also, I reckon a lot of Linux dev types aren't even going to look at the device, it will never occur to them to buy one because it's sold as a Windows Mobile device, and hence isn't going to be near their installation of the hacker mentality. Without a critical mass of people who can develop in/with Linux it's always going to be a struggle.

problem is the program base
all current wm programs unless they are .net
would not run under linux on our pda's
new ones would be required to be written
or ported or....

The Nokia Internet Tablet runs on a version of Linux with a pretty robust set of applications, and this device uses an ARM processor which should be pretty friendly with regard to 'porting'.
But you'd still be stuck without a telephone application.

You can find some information here:
http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/HaRET
http://www.handhelds.org/

Oddly enough I was looking for Linux on Smartphone info yesterday as I've got an Alpine I'd like to be able to do something interesting with.
Demand for something like this is going to be a bit odd - by definition anyone who finds this site, let alone opens an account and posts, is going to be interested in pushing the boundaries of their device but the vast majority of WM device users are going to be in the "don't care how it works as long as it does" group.
Also, I reckon a lot of Linux dev types aren't even going to look at the device, it will never occur to them to buy one because it's sold as a Windows Mobile device, and hence isn't going to be near their installation of the hacker mentality. Without a critical mass of people who can develop in/with Linux it's always going to be a struggle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
May be! as you said it is Windows mobile device and linux lovers aren't going around of it. but I think they are so curious than it.
problem is the program base
all current wm programs unless they are .net
would not run under linux on our pda's
new ones would be required to be written
or ported or....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do think so. since I in previous post I mentioned that .NET framework available in linux. so many of windows program can run on it.
You can find some information here:
http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/HaRET
http://www.handhelds.org/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hart (Reverse engineering tool for wm hardware) was interesting tool.

yeah but due to limitations and slowness only the minority of applications on windows mobile are made in .net :S

i want this one
http://www.openmoko.com/press/index.html
Regards,
Jason

Rudegar said:
problem is the program base
all current wm programs unless they are .net
would not run under linux on our pda's
new ones would be required to be written
or ported or....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not a real problem. If you want to use a particular program from WM that is a problem but why you would do that? There is very large program base for desktop Linux (many of them also exist for desktop Windows) which could be very easily ported to a handheld platform with ARM processor. If you ever looked up how many qualitative programs do exist for Japanese Linux handhelds...

Wexx said:
This is not a real problem. If you want to use a particular program from WM that is a problem but why you would do that? There is very large program base for desktop Linux (many of them also exist for desktop Windows) which could be very easily ported to a handheld platform with ARM processor. If you ever looked up how many qualitative programs do exist for Japanese Linux handhelds...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats one of the things that is grate about open source software - you don't even have to depend on the original developer to find the time / will to port it. Anyone with the programing knowledge can.

SharpDevelop: a VERY simple question from a beginner

Hi everyone.
I'm a beginner in Pocket PC / Smartphone development, though i have some (amateur) experience in creating PC apps (Delphi, C++)
So i just need a "kick start" to begin working on PPC apps. Like, a code to make an app that draws a window with "Hello world" and an OK button in it, you know
I've downloaded the SharpDevelop environment, because it looked like the best freeware alternative to Visual Studio. However, i have to admit i've downloaded the 1.x version, as i have a very old computer. But if it's critical, i can try and install 2.x or 3.x.
Anyway, the question is: how do i create a project for Pocket PC / Smartphone? All i see are options to create PC projects... But i saw SharpDevelop in the D&H wiki, so there must be a way to use it for it, right?
Big thanks in advance for answering my very silly question
upd: also, do i need any special device emulators to run the project, or... w/e

kiruch said:
Hi everyone.
I'm a beginner in Pocket PC / Smartphone development, though i have some (amateur) experience in creating PC apps (Delphi, C++)
So i just need a "kick start" to begin working on PPC apps. Like, a code to make an app that draws a window with "Hello world" and an OK button in it, you know
I've downloaded the SharpDevelop environment, because it looked like the best freeware alternative to Visual Studio. However, i have to admit i've downloaded the 1.x version, as i have a very old computer. But if it's critical, i can try and install 2.x or 3.x.
Anyway, the question is: how do i create a project for Pocket PC / Smartphone? All i see are options to create PC projects... But i saw SharpDevelop in the D&H wiki, so there must be a way to use it for it, right?
Big thanks in advance for answering my very silly question
upd: also, do i need any special device emulators to run the project, or... w/e
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not a silly question mate - it's a perfectly good one. Unfortunately, I don't think that you can use SharpDevelop to create .Net CF applications easily. The Windows Mobile SDKs come with plenty emulators (to answer your latter question), but they're Microsoft, and therefore they're for Visual Studio. It's really easy with Visual Studio - you just install the SDK and select a smart device as your target when you create a new project. It just works.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=20686a1d-97a8-4f80-bc6a-ae010e085a6e
However, as far as I'm aware, you can't use VS Express (the free version), as the SDKs only work with full versions of VS. If you can get hold of that, I'd recommend it.
I do remember seeing a website talking about using SharpDevelop with the .Net CF, but it was sketchy and didn't promise it would work. Maybe google a little more to make sure about that, but I'd strongly recommend a copy of VS Professional, if that's an option.

If you are a student, you can get VS2008 for free (www.dreamspark.com)
If you are not a student, you can get VS2010 RC for free (works for another 100 days from today).

I use Sharp Develop to program in C# for my phone, and it works fine.
However, it's possible that smartphones are only supported in version 2 and 3 (I never tried version 1).
In the newer versions, when you start a new solution, there will be an option to start a Compact Framework Project.
Some code that is automatically added when adding controls to your form, will throw errors and will have to be deleted. There is more information on that in the forums at Sharpdevelop.
Good luck!

It depends on what u want to program in. .net c# c++ ect. Tho if i were u i would try and get VS. If your going to do c++ i can provide some examples, but not for anything else xD. GL.

Porting application to work with windows mobile

I really want to port a small tool to be able to run my magic jack on my HD2. There is a really small and simple tool called MJMD5 that allows you to use your magicjack with any SIP client.
I have the source code for linux, possibly it can be compiled using cygwin for the HD2?
ftp://ftp.bauer-power.net/misc/magicjack/mjproxy.c.tgz
Also, there is a tool that works with windows, but there is a incompatibility with the GUI that isnt allowing it to run on my HD2, a small tweak should fix it.
ftp://ftp.bauer-power.net/misc/magicjack/MJMD5.zip
I am completely new to mobile software development so I hope someone could help me get this working!
Thanks

Is nobody willing to even put me in the right direction?

The source code is for a linux console app; you can't port that easily to WM GUI. You'd need the source code of the Windows exe. To my knowledge, there is no Cygwin version for WinCE yet, or were you referring to cegcc?! It could probably be ported as a console app anyway, but I assume that you want the GUI.
And using a console on the HD2 is somewhat problematic, as the OS has console debug output. I would not recommend that for user programs.

Yeah, I am referring to cegcc. I am not too concerned about the GUI, I just need the functionality, and this program doesnt really need a console, but just needs to be run with certain parameters which is possible with WinCE. So, does anyone know how to compile it for windows mobile?
I appreciate any help.

kkroo said:
Yeah, I am referring to cegcc..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK; I'm reasonably sure that it can be ported with either cegcc or celib. I'd probably do it with celib. I have adapted celib to work with PocketConsole. I just tested my port of perl 5.8.8 on the HD2, and socket/internet functionality seems OK.
kkroo said:
I am not too concerned about the GUI, I just need the functionality, and this program doesnt really need a console, but just needs to be run with certain parameters which is possible with WinCE. So, does anyone know how to compile it for windows mobile?.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About the Windows exe, it appears to be a .NET assembly. But it may not run on Windows Mobile because it is for the desktop Framework, and not the Compact Framework. .NET assemblies can be decompiled, however. Maybe that can help you too.

I don't have this MagicJack, but from what I read about it on the internet, I doubt that it can be used with Windows CE at all if you want to plug it into the HD2 directly, and the USB connector may be different as well. I don't know if that's what you want. Depending on how it communicates with its host, you may even need a driver for it. I think that the HD2 has USB OTG, but it may still not work without a driver. I would find that out first.

In terms of recompiling it, I am pretty sure it will work. Sorry but I am a bit of a novice at this, but how would I do either compiling option?
Thanks

I would use Dis# for decompiling; I just tried to decompile the exe, and that seemed to succeed. No guarantees though; not at all tested. You can have Dis# put the source files and project files in a subdirectory. Then I'd use VS2008 for compiling.
A quick test showed that the IniFile class of this program imports unmanaged functions from kernel32, which is not present on WM. The functions are GetPrivateProfileString and WritePrivateProfileString. I don't think that coredll has them, so porting would probably not be easy. This is a known porting issue; not very severe, but it's only the start. I think that ini files are regarded as legacy by Microsoft. The registry is used for settings.
The most logical thing would seem to me to contact the developer to write a CE version if the device works with generic CE USB drivers. And then you'd still have the connector problem, and possibly even an incompatible interface; I don't know how HTC implemented the USB port. This is assuming that you want to plug it into the HD2 directly. You are not clear about that, so I can't be more specific either.
http://netdecompiler.com/download.html

[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...