Developing Series 60 Applications A Guide for Symbian OS C++ Developers: A Guide for Symbian OS C++ Developers

Preface

This book is for anyone who is considering or is currently involved in creating software for Series 60 using C++. For software engineers, designers and project managers, it is an in-depth practical guide to Series 60 development. Engineers from a wide range of organizations—independent software vendors, licensees, competence centers, network operators, content providers and so on—should benefit from this work. This book provides an in-depth practical guide to Series 60 software development in C++. We do not attempt to teach C++ or object-oriented design; these are essential prerequisites to getting the best from this book.

We assume at the outset that you have located and installed a suitable Series 60 SDK and a chosen development environment from Borland, Metrowerks or Microsoft. Help on acquiring these necessary materials is provided in the References section at the back of the book.

Generous amounts of documentation, information and example projects are included with the SDKs and tools, so where possible we have avoided duplicating this material. From time to time we refer to sections of the standard documentation and examples where you can find more details. Many other sources of information are available to assist engineers to acquire entry-level Symbian OS development skills, and links to such resources are provided in the References section.

Some basics of Symbian development are provided here to aid the complete beginner, but to avoid too much duplication we focus mainly on the specifics of Series 60 Platform development.

Around sixty separate buildable projects are provided, together with full source code and installation scripts. See the References section for instructions on correct installation of the project materials. Links to the projects materials, updates and errata are available online.

Series 60 is a complete smartphone reference design, including a host of wireless applications, based on Symbian OS. It represents a rich open environment for developers to create their own innovative applications. However, it is a rapidly developing platform, and so this book covers development for versions 1.x and 2.x of Series 60 Platform.

Application developers can choose from Java MIDP or C++ as their development language. This book covers only C++, since it currently offers significantly greater capability in terms of performance and access to a huge set of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).

Guide to Readers

The first part of this book provides an overview of the development process, the essentials of Symbian development and the key structural elements of a Series 60 application. Therefore, if you are new to Series 60 development, we urge you to read Chapters 1-4 completely before reading anything else. The rest of the book can be used as a reference work on Series 60 development.

A brief outline of each chapter is provided here to guide readers of varying levels of previous experience, from novice to expert, on how to proceed.

Chapter 1—Getting Started

Introduces the essentials of a Series 60 project, plus building, deploying and running a simple example application.

Chapter 2—Development Reference

Builds on Chapter 1 by providing a detailed description of all the essential components of two Series 60 projects, plus the use of other key development tools to build, deploy and run the example applications.

Chapter 3—Symbian OS Fundamentals

The essential characteristics of Symbian OS upon which Series 60 Platform is based.

Chapter 4—Application Design

Examination of the framework architecture behind every Series 60 GUI application and of key elements of application design—this is the first time the source code of a GUI application is examined.

Chapter 5—Application UI Components

The basics of creating UI controls, plus the essential Series 60 UI controls such as menus, status panes, control panes and so on.

Chapter 6—Dialogs

Use of Series 60 dialogs for interaction with users and displaying information or editing data.

Chapter 7—Lists

User interface controls for displaying collections of items for information and user interaction.

Chapter 8—Editors

Application of user interface components for entering, displaying and editing data.

Chapter 9—Communications Fundamentals

Basic communication APIs for Series 60 developers.

Chapter 10—Advanced Communication Technologies

Sophisticated communication APIs for Series 60 developers.

Chapter 11—Multimedia, Graphics and Audio

Series 60 Graphics Architecture, drawing, fonts, bitmaps, animation and audio.

Chapter 12—Using Application Views, Engines and Key System APIs

How to invoke the published standard application views, use many of the key application engines and accessing several useful system functions from within applications.

Chapter 13—Testing and Debugging

Quality assurance, testing techniques and common debugging methods and techniques.

LEIGH EDWARDS is the author of Programming Psion Computers and has been working with Symbian OS for more than six years, since the days of EPOC32 and Psion Software. He is a co-founder of EMCC Software Ltd., a Symbian and Series 60 Competence Center.

RICHARD BARKER has been developing in C++ for ten years, with a background in R&D, artificial intelligence, and real-time training simulators for defense systems. He has been with EMCC Software as a Symbian OS and Series 60 developer for three years, working on interface and engine design, client software to deliver dynamic data services, and development of Symbian OS itself. He is a regular contributor of Series 60 documentation for Forum Nokia.

PrefaceThis book is for anyone who is considering or is currently involved in creating software for Series 60 using C++. For software engineers, designers and project managers, it is an in-depth practical guide to Series 60 development. Engineers from a wide range of organizations-independent software vendors, licensees, competence centers, network operators, content providers and so on-should benefit from this work. This book provides an in-depth practical guide to Series 60 software development in C++. We do not attempt to teach C++ or object-oriented design; these are essential prerequisites to getting the best from this book.We assume at the outset that you have located and installed a suitable Series 60 SDK and a chosen development environment from Borland, Metrowerks or Microsoft. Help on acquiring these necessary materials is provided in the References section at the back of the book.Generous amounts of documentation, information and example projects are included with the SDKs and tools, so where possible we have avoided duplicating this material. From time to time we refer to sections of the standard documentation and examples where you can find more details. Many other sources of information are available to assist engineers to acquire entry-level Symbian OS development skills, and links to such resources are provided in the References section.Some basics of Symbian development are provided here to aid the complete beginner, but to avoid too much duplication we focus mainly on the specifics of Series 60 Platform development.Around sixty separate buildable projects are provided, together with full source code and installation scripts. See the References section for instructions on correct installation of the project materials. Links to the projects materials, updates and errata are available online.Series 60 is a complete smartphone reference design, including a host of wireless applications, based on Symbian OS. It represents a rich open environment for developers to create their own innovative applications. However, it is a rapidly developing platform, and so this book covers development for versions 1.x and 2.x of Series 60 Platform.Application developers can choose from Java MIDP or C++ as their development language. This book covers only C++, since it currently offers significantly greater capability in terms of performance and access to a huge set of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Guide to ReadersThe first part of this book provides an overview of the development process, the essentials of Symbian development and the key structural elements of a Series 60 application. Therefore, if you are new to Series 60 development, we urge you to read Chapters 1-4 completely before reading anything else. The rest of the book can be used as a reference work on Series 60 development.A brief outline of each chapter is provided here to guide readers of varying levels of previous experience, from novice to expert, on how to proceed.Chapter 1-Getting Started Introduces the essentials of a Series 60 project, plus building, deploying and running a simple example application.Chapter 2-Development Reference Builds on Chapter 1 by providing a detailed description of all the essential components of two Series 60 projects, plus the use of other key development tools to build, deploy and run the example applications.Chapter 3-Symbian OS Fundamentals The essential characteristics of Symbian OS upon which Series 60 Platform is based.Chapter 4-Application Design Examination of the framework architecture behind every Series 60 GUI application and of key elements of application design-this is the first time the source code of a GUI application is examined.Chapter 5-Application UI Components The basics of creating UI contr