BlackBerry Programming 101 – Easy methods to Get Began With BlackBerry Software program Growth
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The success of newer BlackBerry fashions just like the Pearl, Curve, Daring and Storm have allowed RIM (Analysis in Movement) to penetrate the buyer smartphone market and go head-to-head with the Apple iPhone as an software platform. In case you’ve been ignoring the BlackBerry platform as a result of it was too Enterprise-focused on your purposes, it is likely to be time to particularly goal the BlackBerry. This is the way you get began.
It is Java Time
BlackBerry growth for all latest fashions is finished completely in Java. So if you happen to’re not a robust Java programmer, now’s the time to brush up in your Java programming abilities. (C# programmers will discover the transition to Java pretty easy, the languages are very shut in most respects.) Do not study in regards to the latest Java options, nonetheless, as a result of the BlackBerry platform is constructed on high of Java Micro Version (Java ME), which is itself a spinoff of Java model 1.3. So neglect all the flowery (however helpful) language options launched in Java 1.5 — generics, enumerations, and so forth — you may’t use these in BlackBerry programming. You possibly can’t additionally use a lot of the library courses you are conversant in — they’re simply not there. A small subset of the Java Normal Version (Java SE) courses are supported, in addition to numerous BlackBerry-specific courses.
Java Micro Version?
As soon as you have brushed up in your Java, it is advisable spend a little bit of time understanding the Java ME platform, which was previously generally known as Java 2 Micro Version, or J2ME for brief. It is advisable perceive the ideas of configurations and profiles, and particularly the CLDC and MIDP requirements. You will discover plenty of details about these in varied books and on Solar’s Java growth website.
The BlackBerry Platform
After studying about Java ME, it is time to discover the BlackBerry platform. The BlackBerry platform is predicated on the CLDC and consists of help for MIDP 2.0. Nonetheless, a lot of BlackBerry-specific courses are additionally supplied. Which brings you to the primary query you may face: are you going to put in writing a BlackBerry software or a MIDP software? In a MIDP software you are constrained to solely use the APIs uncovered by the CLDC and MIDP requirements. Your software will run on the BlackBerry and on most cellphones, but it surely will not have the ability to use any of the BlackBerry’s particular options. You need to use any MIDP-compatible growth software, such because the Solar Java Wi-fi Toolkit for CLDC (previously generally known as the J2ME Wi-fi Toolkit), to create your purposes.
Most software builders decide to construct BlackBerry-specific purposes. This implies studying the BlackBerry-specific APIs — together with new consumer interface courses — and utilizing the web site?sl=ar&tl=en&hl=en&u=http://na.blackberry.com/eng/builders/javaappdev/javadevenv.jsp”>BlackBerry Java Growth Surroundings (JDE) to develop your purposes. The JDE, which is free to obtain, works with the usual Java Software program Growth Equipment and offers you with all of the instruments essential to create, package deal, check and debug BlackBerry purposes. You do not even want a BlackBerry handheld, as a result of the JDE features a full-featured BlackBerry system simulator. A whole set of JavaDocs is supplied that describes all of the courses and interfaces obtainable to programmers.
After downloading and putting in the JDE, you may need to learn the developer’s guides that include the JDE and have a look at the pattern purposes which might be shipped with it. Then begin your growth by writing a number of easy purposes to get a really feel for the BlackBerry APIs and the instruments.
Get A BlackBerry Handheld
Though you may develop and check your purposes without spending a dime, sooner or later you may must run the applying on an precise BlackBerry handheld. This can price you cash, after all, and so it isn’t one thing you may need to do till you are critical about writing BlackBerry purposes. On-device testing is essential to making sure that the applying works appropriately, as a result of the simulator is just not an ideal emulation system.
In case you’re really critical about BlackBerry software growth, take into account additionally becoming a member of one of many BlackBerry developer packages for extra help and early entry to new units and APIs. You must also discover RIM’s different BlackBerry developer assets. There are additionally third-party boards and books obtainable that will help you study the BlackBerry platform.
Conclusion
BlackBerry programming is just not laborious if you recognize some Java and also you perceive the constraints and limitations of the underlying Java ME platform. It’s important to study a brand new set of APIs and use new growth instruments, however ultimately it is simply one other form of Java programming.
