Developing Handhelds - Slides 1pp

Developing Handhelds Targeting Personal Digital Assistant Platforms A Sasmito Adibowo 1299000029

Agenda Looking Ahead...

P General Issues P Platform Overviews P Development Tools P Business Summary

General Issues “... a handheld is not a PC. Bigger is not necessarily better. Speed is not measured in megahertz – or MIPS, or even FLOPS for that matter. Developers will need to shift paradigms when targeting handhelds...”

General Issues Opposite Usage Patterns

People generally use handhelds in frequent, short bursts; while people work on PCs for several hours at a time.

Accesses per day

Waiting a few minutes for a PC to boot and a wordprocessor to load is acceptable if one’s going to write a paper for two hours. If the sole purpose of turning on the handheld is just to look up somebody’s Average session phone number to call, waits can be time (minutes) frustrating. Source: Palm, Inc user surveys

General Issues User Interface

P Small screen, – most are 6cm * 7cm, some are smaller. P Limited resolution and color. P Small or no keyboard. P Stylus, not mouse – programming will be slightly different. P Less taps is better.

General Issues Memory Considerations

P Most handhelds do not carry secondary storage – all data are stored in the main memory. P Out-of-memory situations will occur more often – applications must degrade gracefully instead of simply terminating. P Memory grew from 2MB, 8MB, to 64MB. But as handhelds grew smaller, don’t expect that trend to continue.

General Issues Conserving Power

P Avoid lengthy computations – leave the analysis to the desktop machine. P Avoid polling, favor blocking. Thus the OS can suspend the CPU. P Limit the use of peripheral devices – sounds, serial, modems, etc. P Optimize for fast response time. Avoid background processing. PDAs only have one user to take care of.

Platform Overviews Discussion Scope

P 3Com’s Palm OS. P Microsoft Windows CE. P Lineo Embedix Plus.

Palm OS Architecture Overview

Source: Palm OS website

Palm OS Platform Components

P Palm OS® software. P Reference hardware design. P HotSync® conduit data synchronization technology. P Platform component tools including an API that enables developers to write applications. P Software interface capabilities to support hardware add-ons .

Palm OS Application Startup and Stop P Only one application at a time. P No exit command – user simply selects another application. P Application launch codes: < sysAppLaunchCmdNormalLaunch – Normal launch. < sysAppLaunchCmdCardLaunch – Launch the application from an expansion card. < sysAppLaunchCmdFind – Finds a text string. < sysAppLaunchCmdInitDatabase – Initialize database prior to HotSync restore.

P Application stop: appStopEvent – upon receiving this event, an application must exit its event loop, close any open files and forms, and exit.

Palm OS Memory

P 32-bit physical address space. P All memory are considered of a part of a card. P Cards may contain RAMs, ROMs, or a combination of both. P Partitions: < Dynamic Heap < Storage Heap

Palm OS Memory Manager

P General memory allocation/de-allocation. P Two types of memory: < Moveable chunks (handles). < Fixed chunks (pointers).

P Heap compaction < When allocation request failed. < Move unlocked moveable chunks down to lower addresses.

P Memory chunks are marked with their owner – freed when the application terminates.

Palm OS Data Manager

P Higher-level data abstraction, for (more) persistent storage. P Databases instead of files. P Data divided into discrete pieces that the system help manages. P Two major categories: < Record databases < Resource databases

Palm OS Data Manager

P Record Databases < Most common for data storage. < Indexed records. < May be maintained in sorted order. < Each record belong to a category. < Backup may be done on a per-record basis.

P Resource Databases < Free-form storage. < Linear search on access.

Palm OS Springboard Expansion

P Used in Handspring Visor handhelds. P Open standard – documentation available for download, no user fees, no royalties, no proprietary parts. P Low cost – uses the PCMCIA 68-pin block. P flexible power – built-in supply of 100mA at 3.3V.

Inserting a module into the Springboard expansion slot

Palm OS Springboard Expansion

P Includes all necessary software P Automatic software install/de-install – no driver needed. P Microphone support in The Springboard expansion slot (below) handheld. and examples of possible Springboard modules.

Windows CE Architecture Overview

Source: MSDN Library

Windows CE Platform Overview

P Version 3.0 renamed to Pocket PC. P Available in three form factors: < Handheld PC – touchscreen with keyboard, either PCMCIA or CompactFlash. < Palm PC – touchscreen without keyboard, CompactFlash. < Auto PC – in-car systems.

P Unicode-only character set. P Subset of the Win32 API. P Support for multithreaded applications.

Windows CE Design Goals

P Small footprint. P High modularity – to build a high range of embedded systems. P Execute-in-place (XIP) out of ROM. P Use the Win32 API standard. P Portable to different microprocessor familites.

Windows CE Memory Management

P 4GB virtual address space. P Data storage provided as a virtual disk in RAM. P Familiar Win32 and C memory-management functions. P Record-based data access are also available via the Object Store.

Windows CE Driver Architecture

P Native drivers – no common interface model, loaded by parent processes. P Stream drivers – exposed to applications through the file system interface. P Regular IPC to drivers are supported.

Windows CE Driver Architecture

Source: MSDN Library

Lineo Embedix Architecture Overview on the Sharp SL-5xxx

Source: SL-5500 / System Architecture Overview

Lineo Embedix Platform Overview

P Mostly standard Linux system with kernel version 2.4. P Busybox provides a subset of POSIX command-line utilities. P Qt/Embedded GUI, virtual framebuffer. P PersonalJava 1.2 environment included. P Base applications provided by Qt Palmtop.

Lineo Embedix Memory Information

P Root filesystem mounted as RAM disk. P All data are managed as regular files. P The Java VM is handled like a regular process. Source: “SL-Series” Memory Information for JavaTM & Qt/Embedded Applications

Development Tools Discussion Scope

P Native-code compilers. P Bytecode or source interpreters. P Java environments (VM, libraries, and tools).

Native Code Compilers CodeWarrior for Palm OS

P The “official” development tool for the Palm OS. P Uses C, C++, or Motorola 68K assembly language, – program directly to the Palm OS API. P Host platform: Windows or Mac. P C++ Support: < Global stack-based objects. < Namespaces < RTTI < Templates

Native Code Compilers CodeWarrior for Palm OS

Debugger

Editor

Emulator

Project Manager

Wizards Source: CodeWarrior 8 for Palm OS Platform Datasheet

Native Code Compilers CodeWarrior for Palm OS

P IDE features: < GUI Builder. < Integrated debugging – with emulator or ondevice trough serial/USB. < Source or assembly level debugging. < Code highlighting. < Wizards. < Class browser.

P Retail price: $499 P Contact: http://www.metrowerks.com

Native Code Compilers Microsoft eMbedded Visual Tools

P Microsoft’s CE development toolset. P Components: < eMbedded Visual C++. < eMbedded Visual Basic. < SDK and remote tools.

P Features the familiar Visual Studio user interface.

Native Code Compilers Microsoft eMbedded Visual Tools

P Program directly to the Windows CE API for C/C++. P C++ offers the option of MFC and ATL for Windows CE. P Debugging options: < Simulating Windows CE environment under desktop Win32. < Remote debugging through cable.

Native Code Compilers Microsoft eMbedded Visual Tools

P Cost: $14.95 (international shipping) – free downloads available. P Contact: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/device/p rodinfo.asp

Native Code Compilers MobileBuilder

P Develop for several platforms from the same code base. P Supported targets: Palm OS, Windows CE, Pocket PC, Windows NT, 98, 95, 3.1, MS-DOS, and DPMI. P IDE with drag-and-drop RAD tools. P Host platform: Windows 2000, NT 4.0, 98, 95

Native Code Compilers MobileBuilder Visual Programming Environment

Powerful Form Designer

Source: MobileBuilder Spec Sheet.

Native Code Compilers MobileBuilder

P C-language, code to Penright’s proprietary API. P Over 350 handheld-focused API: handwriting recognition, signature capture, bar code scanning, etc. P Separate runtime licenses for each target platform. P Price: $1595 per developer seat. P Contact: http://www.penright.com

Bytecode Interpreters PocketC

P Scripting, C-like language (but not C!). P Cross processor capability on Windows CE. P Able to write code on handheld. P Desktop IDE available; without GUI builder (Windows host). P Separate (incompatible) versions for Palm OS and Windows CE.

Bytecode Interpreters PocketC

P Price: $30 (Palm), $38 (Windows CE). P Contact: http://www.orbworks.com

Source: OrbWorks website

Bytecode Interpreters NS Basic/Palm

P Uses the BASIC programming language. P Develop on Windows desktop, with RAD tools. P Runtime size: 88K. P Debugging using Palm OS Emulator. P Price: $149.95 P Contact: http://www.nsbasic.com/palm/

Bytecode Interpreters NS Basic/Palm

Source: NS Basic website

Bytecode Interpreters NS Basic/CE

P Uses standard VBScript interpreter engine. P Code directly in handheld. P IDE with RAD tools. P Database support - ADOCE. P Cross-processor support.

Bytecode Interpreters NS Basic/CE

P Royalty-free program distributions. P Price: $149.95 P Contact: http://www.nsbasic.com/c e/

Source: NS Basic website

Java Environments KVM Reference Implementation

P Focus on connected devices. P Multithreading support. P VM size: 50K – 80K, working memory: 128K. P Current target: Palm OS. Desktop: Windows and Solaris. P No native support. P Contact: http://java.sun.com/products/cldc/ds/

Java Environments Jeode PDA Edition

P PersonalJava 1.2 compliant – VM certified by Sun. P Complete JNI support. P Targets: Windows CE, Linux (X11, Qt/Embedded, QPE). P Dynamic Adaptive Compilation (DAC). P Contact: http://www.insignia.com

Java Environments Waba

P Strict subset of Java: language, class file, bytecode format. P Cross-platform VM: Palm OS, Windows CE, Newton, TI, even DOS. P Small footprint < VM+classlib less than 64K on Palm OS and Windows CE. < Working memory less than 10K.

Java Environments Waba

P Very limited set of libraries. P No multithreading, no exceptions. P Supports serial and socket communications. P Native interface implemented by modifying VM’s source code. P No-charge, GPL license. P Contact: http://www.wabasoft.com

Business Summary Targeting Palm OS

P Pros < Market share leader – control the market’s directions. < OS built for small, low-powered devices – may appear in wider settings. < Vendor support and connectivity to enterprise products: IBM, Oracle, Sybase, SAP.

P Cons < High learning curve for developers. < Limited capacity of the Motorola Dragonball processor.

Business Summary Targeting Windows CE

P Pros < Similarity to other members of the Windows family – simple transition from desktop-based Windows development. < Microsoft efforts for CE to dominate in-car computing. < Availability of familiar applications: Word, Excel, Outlook.

P Cons < Declining market segment – from small to smaller. < Large memory, battery, and user interface requirements.

Business Summary Targeting Linux

P Pros < As expected from Linux: GPL open source. < Interesting possibilities to mix-and-match components. < Most software components can be downloaded at no cost.

P Cons < Very high learning curve. < Most development tools are not mature – usually resorts to command-line gcc. < No established standard – too many GUI toolkits and libraries.

References P Campbell, Tom. Programming Windows CE applications on your Windows CE machine. Programming Power. P Epplin, Jerry. A developer's perspective on Sharp's Zaurus SL5000D Linux/Java PDA. Nov. 12, 2001. P Palm, Inc. A Flexible Architecture for Innovative Solutions. 2002. http://www.palmos.com/platform/architecture.html P Palm, Inc. Palm OS Memory Architecture. http://oasis.palm.com/dev/kb/papers/1145.cfm?print=true P Palm, Inc. Zen of Palm. P Palm, Inc. Palm OS Programmer's Companion, Volume I. P Penright. MobileBuilder Spec Sheet. P Gregory, Kimberly . Embedded Development with Microsoft Windows CE. April 1998. P Handspring. The Springboard Platform Whitepaper. 1999 P Insignia. Jeode PDA Edition VM. http://www.insignia.com/. 2002.. http://www.insignia.com/. 2002.

References P Richter, Jeffrey. Developing Applications for Microsoft Windows CE: An Overview of the Windows CE SDK and Visual C++ for Windows CE. MSDN Library. March 15, 1997. P Metrowerks. CodeWarrior 8 for Palm OS Platform Datasheet. P Microsoft Corp. Microsoft Windows CE Technical FAQ. MSDN Library. P Microsoft Corp. Microsoft Windows CE: The New Choice for Dedicated Systems. MSDN Library. P Microsoft Corp. Windows CE 2.10: Frequently Asked Questions. July 27, 1998. P Microsoft Corp. Windows CE Memory Architecture. MSDN Library. P Sharp Corporation. “SL-Series” Memory Information for JavaTM & Qt/Embedded Applications. (revision 1.00 2002.4.4) P Sun Microsystems. Java 2 Platform Micro Edition (J2ME) Technology for Creating Mobile Devices White Paper. May 19 2000. P Wireless Developer Network. WirelessDevNet Online Training. http://www.wirelessdevnet.com

Thank You Any Questions?