BlackBerry Programming 101 – How to Get Commenced With BlackBerry Software program Growth

The results of newer BlackBerry versions like the Pearl, Curve, Daring and Storm have authorized RIM (Analysis in Motion) to penetrate the shopper smartphone marketplace and go head-to-head with the Apple Apple iphone as an application platform. If you’ve got been ignoring the BlackBerry platform simply because it was too Enterprise-focused for your apps, it could be time to specifically target the BlackBerry. Here is how you get started.

It’s Java Time

BlackBerry development for all current types is done exclusively in Java. So if you’re not a sturdy Java programmer, now’s the time to brush up on your Java programming expertise. (C# programmers will locate the transition to Java reasonably straightforward, the languages are incredibly near in most respects.) Do not learn about the latest Java attributes, having said that, due to the fact the BlackBerry platform is built on top rated of Java Micro Version (Java ME), which is by itself a by-product of Java model 1.3. So ignore all the extravagant (but handy) language characteristics launched in Java 1.5 — generics, enumerations, and so on — you can not use these in BlackBerry programming. You can’t also use most of the library courses you’re familiar with — they’re just not there. A tiny subset of the Java Standard Edition (Java SE) classes are supported, as effectively as a selection of BlackBerry-precise lessons.

Java Micro Edition?

When you’ve got brushed up on your Java, you want to expend a bit of time knowledge the Java ME platform, which was formerly regarded as Java 2 Micro Version, or J2ME for small. You require to realize the ideas of configurations and profiles, and in particular the CLDC and MIDP requirements. You can expect to locate loads of information about these in a variety of books and on Sun’s Java progress web-site.

The BlackBerry System

Just after finding out about Java ME, it really is time to check out the BlackBerry platform. The BlackBerry platform is based mostly on the CLDC and features assistance for MIDP 2.. On the other hand, a substantial number of BlackBerry-unique lessons are also presented. Which delivers you to the very first concern you can encounter: are you heading to compose a BlackBerry software or a MIDP software? In a MIDP application you’re constrained to only use the APIs exposed by the CLDC and MIDP benchmarks. Your application will run on the BlackBerry and on most cellphones, but it won’t be capable to use any of the BlackBerry’s unique capabilities. You can use any MIDP-appropriate growth tool, this kind of as the Sunlight Java Wireless Toolkit for CLDC (formerly acknowledged as the J2ME Wi-fi Toolkit), to generate your purposes.

Most application builders opt to make BlackBerry-specific programs. This suggests finding out the BlackBerry-certain APIs — which include new consumer interface courses — and utilizing the BlackBerry Java Enhancement Surroundings (JDE) to create your programs. The JDE, which is cost-free to obtain, performs with the common Java Application Progress Kit and presents you with all the equipment needed to produce, package deal, exam and debug BlackBerry applications. You do not even require a BlackBerry handheld, mainly because the JDE contains a entire-showcased BlackBerry system simulator. A entire established of JavaDocs is delivered that describes all the courses and interfaces accessible to programmers.

Immediately after downloading and putting in the JDE, you can want to browse the developer’s guides that come with the JDE and glance at the sample apps that are delivered with it. Then start your development by writing a couple uncomplicated apps to get a experience for the BlackBerry APIs and the tools.

Get A BlackBerry Handheld

While you can establish and check your purposes for totally free, at some point you may need to have to operate the software on an precise BlackBerry handheld. This will value you funds, of program, and so it is really not something you can want to do until finally you happen to be major about producing BlackBerry purposes. On-system tests is crucial to making certain that the application is effective appropriately, simply because the simulator is not a fantastic emulation procedure.

If you happen to be really major about BlackBerry application progress, look at also becoming a member of a single of the BlackBerry developer courses for added aid and early entry to new units and APIs. You need to also investigate RIM’s other BlackBerry developer means. There are also third-get together message boards and guides out there to enable you study the BlackBerry platform.

Summary

BlackBerry programming is not really hard if you know some Java and you understand the constraints and constraints of the fundamental Java ME system. You have to find out a new set of APIs and use new progress tools, but in the conclusion it can be just one more kind of Java programming.