Introduction to Pocket PC and smartphone development tools based on Windows Mobile

Microsoft Corporation

August 2003

Applicable:
Microsoft Embedded Visual tools 3.0-2002 Edition
Microsoft Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0 sp2
Microsoft Visual Studio. NET
Microsoft. NET Compact framework
Pocket PC 2002
Pocket PC 2003
Smartphone 2002
Smartphone 2003

Abstract:This article mainly introduces the development and application of Windows powered and Windows Mobile-based devices.ProgramTool and support technology. This document not only lists the platforms supported by various tools, but also provides some development solutions and guidelines for selecting tools and technologies for various solutions. (This article contains links to English sites .)

Directory

Introduction
Mobile Application Development Tools
Tool comparison table
Development Scheme
Summary
Appendix: Recommended installation sequence of mobile application development tools

Introduction

Microsoft has provided many powerful and increasingly specialized tools since Microsoft Windows CE was launched in 1996 and handheld PC 1.0 was launched soon, help developers meet specific needs and complete application tasks on Windows Mobile Platforms. Microsoft has released a variety of tool packages for building applications on Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs and smartphones.

This White Paper introduces developers to the current situation of Windows Mobile Application development tools and their development prospects. It helps developers determine which development tools are most suitable for their needs, where they should be used, and before starting a mobile application project, what preparations do mobile application developers need to make. This article also compares the advantages of several tools.

Although mobile development tools are available in a variety of ways and will continue to grow, Microsoft's ultimate goal is to create a unified development environment to meet the needs of all mobile application development, this includes integrating mobile development tools into Microsoft Visual Studio. net core products.

Mobile Application Development Tools

The following sections describe the tools currently available on the Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC and smartphone. When reading the tool description, developers should place these tools on the local, hosted, or server side.CodeBackground:

• Use local codeIt is used when you need to directly access hardware or have limited resources to achieve high performance.
• Use managed codeIt is to develop user interface-centered applications that require quick release or fast development. If you want to easily access web services, you can also use managed code.
• Use server codeTo use a code set to develop applications suitable for multiple devices, ensure that the device has sufficient data bandwidth.

Embedded Visual tools 3.0

Microsoft Embedded Visual tools 3.0 provides an entry-level integrated development environment for building mobile applications, including necessary compilers, debugging, and platform documentation. Embedded Visual tools 3.0 includes Microsoft Embedded Visual C ++ 3.0 (EVC 3.0) and Embedded Visual Basic 3.0 (EVB 3.0 ). Both tools are independent development environments and do not need to run any other development environments, such as Microsoft Visual Studio or Visual Studio. NET.

To develop a Windows Mobile-based device, all tools must use the platform software development kit (SDK) of the target device ). Embedded Visual tools 3.0 version 2002 includes sdks for all current Windows Mobile devices, including Pocket PC 2002 and smartphone 2002. Sdks for non-Windows Mobile devices should be obtained from the device manufacturer.

You can download Embedded Visual tools 3.0-2002 Edition for free from the http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/downloads/developer/default.mspx.

For more information about Embedded Visual tools, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/device/embedded/default.asp.

Embedded Visual C ++ 3.0

Microsoft Embedded Visual C ++ 3.0 provides a C ++ compiler for Windows Mobile-based development. If the correct SDK is installed, you can use it to develop applications for all devices based on Windows CE 2.11 and 3.0. Embedded Visual C ++ debugger works with wired, wireless LAN, or pedestal connections through Microsoft ActiveSync.

It also provides software simulators that can be used for Pocket PC 2002 and smartphone 2002 devices. When Pocket PC 2002 was released, Microsoft launched a new Simulator for the Pocket PC 2002 SDK, which is closer to a real Windows Mobile-based device. This new type of simulator can run a real Windows CE binary file in a virtual PC shell. Smartphone 2002, Pocket PC 2003, and Smartphone 2003 sdks also use this new simulator.

Embedded Visual C ++ can be used:

• Pocket PC or any other driver based on Windows Mobile
• Applications Running locally on the device
• Using Game APIs (GAPI) to use high-speed graphics games
• Applications with high processing requirements
• COM server or Microsoft ActiveX Control

Embedded Visual Basic 3.0

Embedded Visual Basic 3.0 supports applications written in the Visual Basic language. The P code obtained is interpreted at runtime. Although most Windows Mobile-based devices have built-in functions to run applications built using Embedded Visual Basic, however, some customized Windows CE-based embedded hardware platforms may not contain embedded Visual Basic runtime. The Windows Mobile 2003 software of the Pocket PC does not contain the Visual Basic runtime, but can be downloaded from Windows Mobile developer downloads.

Embedded Visual Basic is a scripting language, rather than a Visual Basic language with all functions. Therefore, many language functions provided by Visual Basic 6.0 for desktop systems are not supported in Embedded Visual Basic 3.0. For example:

• By default, all variables are of the variant type, and strict types are not supported.
• ActiveX controls cannot be developed using Embedded Visual Basic, but can be integrated
• Several original visual basic controls are not supported, and some attributes are missing

Embedded Visual Basic cannot be used to develop applications for Windows Mobile 2002-based smartphone. In view of this, and other reasons (including to further develop and expand Visual Basic.. Net Development Group), Embedded Visual Basic technology has been gradually eliminated, replaced by a more powerful Visual Basic.. NET language. Microsoft recommends that developers use Visual Basic. Net to create all new Pocket PC applications and use embedded Visual Basic to maintain earlier versions of applications.

Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0

Microsoft Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0 supports the new Windows CE-based. net 4.2 Device Development, and after installing the released Service Pack, supports Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PC and smartphone (the previous code is "Ozone "). Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0 is ideal for developing applications for mobile or embedded devices on Windows CE. Net 4.2 using local code. Enhanced Functions of Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0 include:

• Real-time debugging to diagnose unprocessed exceptions
• C ++ structured exception handling
• "APPEND to" process for enhanced process debugging capability
• Better integration with new Simulators

You can download Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0, EVC 4.0 Service Pack 2, and Windows Mobile 2003 software SDK for Pocket PC from developer downloads.

Download the Smartphone 2003 SDK from Windows Mobile 2003-based smartphones downloads.

Smart device programmability of Visual Studio. NET 2003

Visual Studio. net's smart device programmability (SDP) function (formerly called smart device extensions [SDE]) can help developers use Microsoft. NET Compact framework to write mobile applications, so that Distributed mobile computing can be enabled in case of connection or disconnection. Using a large number of class libraries provided by. NET Compact framework, developers can write applications much faster than using traditional tools.

Use Visual Studio. NET 2003, developers can use the same tools and technologies used in desktop system development to develop Pocket PC 2002 (if the corresponding SDK is available), as well as Pocket PC and Smartphone 2003. It will install. NET Compact framework, which is specially designed for devices with limited resources. Developers can use the new C # Or Visual Basic. NET language to develop mobile and embedded devices. It can also be used well for applications that use XML Web Service or ADO. net.

Visual Studio. NET 2003 can be used:

• Applications using Web Services
• Applications that must run normally in a connection or disconnection Environment
• Use Visual Basic. Net or C # to develop applications
• When you want to program desktops, servers, and devices using the same tool
• Rapid development of mobile applications
• Provide reliable and secure environment software
• Can be transplanted to applications with different CPUs or different Windows versions of different devices

For more information about the smart device programmability function of Visual Studio. NET, see smart device programmability.

ASP. NET mobile controls

ASP. NET mobile controls (formerly Microsoft mobile Internet Toolkit [mmit]) is a supplement to smart device programmability and. NET Compact framework. ASP. NET mobile controls extends the ability of. NET Compact framework and Visual Studio. NET to build mobile Web applications by enabling ASP. NET to send tags to a variety of mobile devices. With this method, developers can use Visual Studio. net to build a mobile Web application, which can automatically adjust its page rendering mode to adapt to a variety of devices, such as enabling Internet mobile phones, pagers and PDAs (such as Pocket PCs ). It also simplifies development tasks because it has been integrated into Visual Studio.. Net integrated design environment (IDE), allows developers to drag controls to mobile web forms to build mobile Web applications.

ASP. NET does not install any components on the client device. On the contrary, it uses the server logic to adapt to the rendering mode of the Web browser of a specific device. It can generate wireless Markup Language (WML), HTML, and simplified HTML (chtml ).

In addition to highly adaptive web page rendering, Asp. net also provides a wide range of frameworks for customization and scalability, and provides a simple method to expand controls, so that controls can adapt to the various new devices to be listed. In addition, Asp. net also allows developers to control the display mode for specific devices or devices in the same programming model, allowing developers to easily add support for new devices, instead of re-writing their mobile Web applications.

ASP. NET mobile controls can be used:

• Supports various web-enabled devices (mobile phones, pagers, and PDAs)
• Supports various Markup languages (WML, chtml, HTML)

Note:ASP. NET mobile controls does not need to install any client. However, the target device must have a client web browser.

For more information about Microsoft ASP. NET mobile controls, see mobile Web development with ASP. NET.

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Windows CE edition 2.0

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Windows CE edition (SQL Server CE) 2.0 is a streamlined database that can be used to quickly develop applications that extend enterprise data management capabilities to mobile devices. SQL Server CE is a powerful tool that supports familiar Structured Query Language (SQL) syntax and provides development models and APIs consistent with SQL Server, this makes development of mobile applications easier and easier.

The SQL Server ce engine provides a set of basic relational database functions, such as optimizing the query processor and supporting transactions and various data types. It also maintains a streamlined memory space that retains important system resources. Remote Data Access and merge replication ensure that data in the SQL Server database can be reliably sent. They can be operated offline and synchronized with the server in the future, these advantages make SQL Server ce ideal for mobile and wireless environments.

SQL Server ce 2.0 can be integrated with. NET Compact framework through Visual Studio. NET, which simplifies the development of database applications for smart devices. Use the new SQL Server CE data provider to run code in a common language library. mobile application developers can, create highly scalable applications with offline data management.

In the following cases, you can add SQL Server Ce as a development tool:

• Extend enterprise data management to Pocket PC
• Develop applications for storing and processing large volumes of data on mobile devices
• In an environment with unstable connection conditions, you need to use mobile devices for reliable data replication.

For more information, see build better applications with SQL Server ce 2.0.

Tool comparison table

The following table describes the functions of different tools.

Development Scheme

In the short term, the most common tools used to develop Windows Mobile devices are embedded Visual tools 2000 for Pocket PC 2002 and 3.0, and embedded Visual C ++ 2002 for smartphone 3.0, and embedded Visual C ++ 2003 for Pocket PC and smartphone 4.0. Finally, Visual Studio. NET and Its smart device programmability (SDP) functions will become all development platforms based on Windows Mobile devices.

Server code or client code?

Whether to use server-side code or client-side code depends on several conditions. Although the application solutions are different, these conditions can help you select the best solution for the application.

• User ExperienceClient applications generally provide a good user experience because they run on devices and are independent of all infrastructure for interoperability with them.
• Available Bandwidth: This is related to the user experience. Applications Running in an environment with sufficient reliable bandwidth (such as a wireless LAN) can also provide a good user experience if server code is used.
• Data security: The client application must ensure the security of sensitive data on the device. Windows Mobile provides a series of cryptographic service providers to help achieve this goal. Server applications must ensure that data can be securely transmitted using SSL and other technologies.
• Supportability: Updates to client applications must be downloaded and installed on the device. If you develop a client application, consider this factor.
• Offline: Client applications are the best choice for offline data access and other offline functions.

What do you need to prepare before developing a Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC and smartphone?

Before developing a Pocket PC or smartphone, the content you want to prepare depends on what you want to develop and the devices you want to develop. In most cases, you need to have an integrated development environment and the sdks or extensions of the devices to be developed. Fortunately, you can develop all Windows Mobile-based devices on a computer, because all tools can coexist on both devices. For the recommended installation sequence, see the appendix.

Currently, Embedded Visual tools IDE and the required sdks are free of charge and can be downloaded through the Web.

Which tool... when?

Performance, control, or resources are very important to me. For example, I want to write a game, device driver, or an Active X component.......

If you want to develop a Pocket PC and smartphone running Windows Mobile 2003 software, you only need to download the Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0 Service Pack 2 and Pocket PC 2003 sdks from developer downloads. You can also use the Smartphone 2003 SDK to develop Windows Mobile 2003 software for smartphone.

To support earlier Pocket PC, Pocket PC 2002, and smartphone 2002 devices, you also need to download Embedded Visual tools 3.0-2002 edition.

To maintain applications that develop handheld PC Professional Edition, handheld PC 2000, or palm size PC 1.2, you can download sdks for Embedded Visual tools 3.0.

I want to quickly develop applications in a secure and reliable environment. I may want to access web services.......

I want to write a client application with maximum code portability......

I want to use my own Visual Studio. NET 2003, Visual C #, Visual Basic. Net or. NET Framework knowledge......

We recommend that you use the smart device programmability function in Visual Studio. NET 2003 .. NET Compact framework is built in Windows Mobile 2003-based Pocket PC and smartphone. It can be used in Pocket PC 2002, but must be installed on the device.

I want to develop smartphone 2002.......

You should download Embedded Visual tools 3.0-2002 edition.

If you want to test the application on a real device, but there is no smartphone in your region, or the development is not supported by smartphone, you can purchase the smartphone developer kit.

I want to use a code library to develop Pocket PC 2002 and Pocket PC 2003 ......

You can build your application in two ways:

1. Use Visual Studio. NET 2003 to develop the. NET Compact framework.In this way, you can write a hosted code library and run it on two devices. Pocket PC 2002 requires that. NET Compact framework be installed on the device.
2. Use Embedded Visual C ++ 3.0.If you use reliable APIs and write a well-running application, and use embedded Visual C ++ 3.0 to write and compile your local code, it should be able to run on Pocket PC 2003 and Pocket PC 2002 devices.

I want to use a code library to develop smartphone 2002 and Smartphone 2003......

. NET Compact framework cannot be used for smartphone 2002. To write a code library to run on Smartphone 2002 and Smartphone 2003, you must use the local code and use embedded Visual C ++ 3.0 to compile your application.

I want to maintain applications written with Embedded Visual Basic......

You should download Embedded Visual tools 3.0-2002 edition, which contains the development environment, simulator, and SDK of Embedded Visual Basic.

Consider using Visual Basic. NET 2003 to export applications to. NET Compact framework.

I want to write applications for various mobile devices that can run in a thin client environment. I want to maintain applications written with Embedded Visual Basic......

You should use ASP. NET mobile controls in Visual Studio. NET 2003. For more information, see mobile Web development with ASP. NET.

Summary

Microsoft is committed to achieving long-term success in the mobile device market and helping developers provide their enterprise users and customers with a rich and powerful mobile application. The current Windows Mobile-based application development language provides a series of incredible capabilities and flexibility.

With the advent of new mobile devices, Microsoft will continue to provide more sophisticated and unified development tools to help developers quickly design and develop new applications using technologies such as Web Services, and the Use Based on.. Net integration capability. With these practical tools, the Mobile Application Development Group will continuously provide applications that meet market requirements for fast-growing markets.

Appendix: Recommended installation sequence of mobile application development tools

To ensure maximum interoperability among various development tools of Windows Mobile Software, we recommend that you install these tools and sdks in the following order. If you do not have or do not need a specific tool, you do not have to obtain it because it does not affect the interoperability between other tools.

The following installation steps require you to log on to your computer using an account with local administrator privileges.

2. Uninstall all existing tools, sdks, and simulators before installation.
   Before installation, uninstall the following programs:
   • Embedded Visual tools 3.0
   • Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0
   • Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0 Service Pack 2
   • Visual Studio. NET 2003
   • Pocket PC 2003 SDK
   • Pocket PC 2002 SDK
   • Smartphone 2003 SDK
   • Smartphone 2002 SDK
   • Pocket PC 2000 SDK
   • Standard SDK for Windows CE. net
   • Microsoft ActiveSync
4. Install Microsoft ActiveSync 3.7
   All development tools of mobile applications require the use of ActiveSync 3.7 for application development and deployment.
6. Install Embedded Visual tools-2002 Edition, Pocket PC 2002 SDK, and smartphone 2002 SDK
   To develop C ++ and Visual Basic applications on the Pocket PC and smartphone 2002 platforms, you must install Embedded Visual tools-2002 edition.
   Note:Installing Embedded Visual tools-2002 edition will also start the installation process of the Pocket PC 2002 and smartphone 2002 sdks.
8. Install Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0 and Service Pack 2
   To develop C ++ applications for Pocket PC 2003, you must install Microsoft Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0 and Service Pack 2. Note that you can install Embedded Visual C ++ 4.0AfterInstall Service Pack 2 now.
   Note:When installing Embedded Visual C ++ 2003 Service Pack 2 on Windows Server 4.0, a dialog box may pop up prompting that a simulator driver has not been signed. You should accept the unsigned driver and continue.
10. Install Visual Studio. NET 2003
    To use C # Or Visual Basic. Net to develop applications for Pocket PC 2002, Smartphone 2003, or Pocket PC 2003, you must install Visual Studio. NET 2003.
    A simulated image of a Pocket PC 2003 device and a Pocket PC 2003 device already contains the. NET Compact framework. However, you must deploy. NET Compact framework on earlier devices.
12. Install the Pocket PC 2003 SDK
    To use C ++, C #, or Visual Basic. Net to develop applications for Pocket PC 2003, you must install the Pocket PC 2003 SDK.
14. Install the Smartphone 2003 SDK
    To use C ++, C #, or Visual Basic. Net to develop applications for Smartphone 2003, you must install the Smartphone 2003 SDK.