Developing for Symbian OS

Andrei Tabarcea, 31.01.2011

Content

1. History and market share2. Developing applications for

Symbian1. Symbian C++2. Java ME3. Web Runtime Toolkit

3. Publishing applications for Symbian

A Bit of HistorySymbian OS is a multitasking smartphone

operating system 1998 – Started as a partnership between

companies such as Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola and Psion (Symbian Ldt.)

2008 – Symbian Ldt. was bought by Nokia and turned into Symbian Foundation

February 2010 – Symbian became open source November 2010 – Nokia took over the

development of Symbian OS and Symbian Foundation became a licensing-only organisation

Global Market Share

Symbian is still the most popular smartphone OS in the world

Android is predicted to take over the first place by 2015

Smartphone OS Market Share Q3 2010Source: Gartner Research

Symbian OS Does Not Exist in the USA

Version History

Series 60 3rd Edition (e.g. Nokia N95, Nokia C5-00)

Symbian^1 (aka Series 60 5th edition, e.g. Nokia N97, 5230, 6800 XpressMusic)

Symbian^2 (some phones from DoCoMo and Sharp)

Symbian^3/Symbian^4 (e.g. Nokia N8, C6-01, C7-00, E7-00)

Developing for Symbian OS

Symbian OS supports development using: Symbian C++ (and QT Framework) Java ME HTML, CSS and Javascript Web Runtime

(WRT) Python Others (Standard C/C++, Flash Lite,

Ruby, .NET etc.)

Developing Applications for Symbian

Register on www.forum.nokia.com Install specific SDK/emulators. Options:

Symbian emulators: S60 3rd edition FP1, FP2, S60 5th edition, Symbian^3

Java ME emulators: WTK (Java Wireless Toolkit), Java Platform Micro Edition SDK

Install IDE with mobility plugins (Eclipse, Netbeans, Carbide, Aptana Studio etc.)

Install Nokia OVI Suite for easier phone access

Develop, build and deploy Publish to website and/or OVI Shop

Symbian C++

Advantages: Full access to Symbian API’s and phone resources Applications are not run by virtual machine Better debugging and profiling tools It’s the primary language for writing Symbian OSDisadvantages: Steep learning curve Complicated application signing process You have to do your own memory management

Symbian C++ Particularities Was created before C++ itself (1998) Later C++ additions (exceptions, namespaces) are

not supported Has some non-standard C++ characteristics (e.g.

own mechanism for exception handling, specific classes for string manipulations etc.)

Most data types are defined with macros Projects have a complex structure There are 4 basic class types Other particularities: leaves, traps, panics,

CleanupStack and Active Objects instead of threads

Symbian C++ Class Types

T – Data type classes. C – Heap allocated classes derived

from CBase R – Resource classes. M – Interfaceclasses(‘mixins’)

Recommended IDE – Carbide.c++ Based on Eclipse IDE Carbide.c++ is provided in two different

tool packages: Application Development Toolkit (ADT)

contains tools for application development, including the IDE, debugger, and analysis tools

Product Development Toolkit (PDT) contains tools for contribution and product creation

Alternative: CodeWarrior

QT Framework QT is a cross-platform application framework Will be the new UI Framework of Symbian OS Development company (Qt Development Frameworks) is

owned by Nokia Easy porting to Maemo OS is aimed Best chance to save the future of Symbian OS Development can be done with Carbide C++ or QT

Creator IDE

Java MEAdvantages: Easier to develop Compatibility with other platforms (theoretical) Garbage Collector takes care of memory management Certification is simplerDisadvantages: Light version of Java Access to some resources is restricted (even with certification) Different implementations of Java Virtual Machine on different

phone models Bad memory management Default UI library (lcdui) is very restricted and difficult to

customize (needs use of an external library such as LWUIT) Default UI programming pattern is not suited for big projects

Recommended IDEs

Eclipse vs. NetBeans: Eclipse is faster Carbide.c++ is a modified version of Eclipse NetBeans has better editors (screen editors,

flow editors) NetBeans has better support for sharing code

between projects

Emulators

Symbian emulators vs Sun Java Emulators Sun Java emulators are much faster and

use less disk space/resources Sun Java emulators simulate ideal case Symbian emulators simulate how the

application actually runs on a phone Symbian emulators have some stability

issues

Web Runtime Toolkit Widgets

Advantages: Use of HTML/CSS/Javascript allows easily

creating good interfaces Easy access to Nokia API’s such as OVI MapsDisadvantages Few models support it (since S60v5) Main purpose is to develop home-screen

widgets (focused web applications) Restrictions in using HTML and Javascript Restrictions in using some resources

Publishing Applications for Symbian OS

Options: Publish through own website Publish through Ovi Store

1-time publisher registration fee of 1€ Nokia offers a 70% revenue share of

gross sale (as of 2010) Now Nokia offers for free:

Java Verified signing for Jave ME apps Express signing for Symbian C++ apps

Application signing for Symbian OS

Andrei Tabarcea01.02.2011

Java ME

Steps: Add which permissions to acquire in .jad file

(javax.microedition.io.Connector.http) Get code certificate from a trusted authority:

Verisign - http://www.verisign.com/products/signing/code/

Thawte - https://www.thawte.com/code-signing/index.html

Sign the .jar file using IDE or command line utilities

Buy Certificate Generate a Certificate Signing Request

(public key generated by IDE) Buy certificate:

Certificate costs $499 per year (100$ per year discount on longer periods) from Verisign

Certificate costs $299 per year ($549 per 2 years) from Thawte

Provide authorization credentials Pay and pick up certificate

Symbian C++ - Capabilities

Signing Types

How to Get?

Publisher ID: purchase from TC TrustCenter (www.trustcenter.de/order/publisherid/dev) - $200 per year

Symbian Signed account (free) www.symbiansigned.com

Certificate creation tools http://developer.symbian.com/wiki/display/pub/Symbian+Signed+Tools

How to Use Open Signed Online Go to SymbianSigned.com Create account Generate UID for your application Compile application using provided UID Get IMEI from the devices you want to test the

application on Upload application to

https://www.symbiansigned.com/app/page/public/openSignedOnline.do

Wait for confirmation email and go to confirmation link Wait for download email and go to download link

Example

How to Express Sign Get Publisher ID from TC TrustCenter ($100) Purchase Content ID for TC TrustCenter ($20

per signing) Sign the application with Publisher ID using

SignSis Submit application to Symbian Signed Download signed application from Symbian

Signed Optionally, the application could be selected

for audit

Ovi Shop Nokia can sign your Java ME apps as

Java Verified Nokia can sign you Symbian C++ apps

as Express Signed (Certificates are valid for only three months)

You have to register as publisher (€1) Nokia does a QA review, ensuring that

the app meets signing criteria as well as their own test requirements

Start GPS on Java ME

Start GPS on Java ME

Questions

Thank you!