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Cellphones and programming tutorials

Started by sathenzar Aug 1, 2005 at 8:43 PM 20 replies 2.2k views
Original Post
sathenzar
sathenzar
hey everyone, do u know where would be a good place to start on how to make cellphone programs? If I already know how to make PC Applications(via C++/Win32..etc) is there a way with .NET that I can make it also run on a cellphone or do you need to code a whole new program? Thanks in advance.
sathenzar
sathenzar
and if possible if you could list what programming language you think is best for programming for cellphones if you could list it I would appreciate it.
poss74
poss74
I think Java is the lingua franca of cellphone apps [google]
If at first you don't succeed, call it version 1.0You don't stop playing because you get old; you get old when you stop playing.
pinacolada
pinacolada
What he said. The two major cell phone environments right now are BREW (C/C++) and J2ME (Java). But independant development with BREW is near impossible. So, until you get that job with a cell phone game company, J2ME is the best way to go.
sathenzar
sathenzar
ok then, thanks for your help. One last question, I hope this doesn't sound to stupid but if there is any keywords you could suggust for google except j2mE cellphone programming tutorials then if you could please post some ideas.
Thanks again for your help.
Ravuya
Ravuya
Check the documentation on java.sun.com; they have an excellent J2ME section.
serg3d
serg3d
Quote:
Original post by pinacolada
What he said. The two major cell phone environments right now are BREW (C/C++) and J2ME (Java). But independant development with BREW is near impossible. So, until you get that job with a cell phone game company, J2ME is the best way to go.

Hmm, Symbian C++ probably bigger platform then BREW. Or will be bigger soon.

Frank Henry
Frank Henry
IIRC there is an article here on gamedev about J2ME development.
sathenzar
sathenzar
Wow, I appreicate all the help that has been given so far. I have researched a little in BREW. I would like to stick to a C++ based system b/c I don't know to much about Java. I will learn it if I have to but it'd be easier for me if it was C++ based. One last question. Will BREW or Symbian support all cellphones? Or will it only work on certian types? Thanks in advance.
sathenzar
sathenzar
(Sorry)I have two more questions, 1:) why is Java the main programming language for cellphone apps? 2:)I would eventually like to make games for cellphones. Can BREW/Java make games? If it's BREW, do I program my games with DirectX or somthing else? Thanks in advance.
Miranda
Miranda
Java (J2ME) is the main programming language because it has the largest number of phones that support it.

I don't know anything about BREW because we don't have any handsets that support it here in Australia (is it available outside the US???), but with Symbian C++ you can deveop with OpenGL ES (on a few handsets) if you want to do 3d.

Forum Nokia has heaps of great info, for both J2ME and Symbian.

good luck!
pinacolada
pinacolada
Yeah, sorry I should have qualified that by saying that BREW and J2ME are the two big ones in the US. Symbian is pretty big, but it seems like (in my limited experience) not that many American companies target it. Maybe they are all just being lazy and deploying their Java builds to Symbian phones.

Quote:

If it's BREW, do I program my games with DirectX or somthing else

It has a drawing API but it doesn't use DirectX. From the programmer's point of view, using BREW's API will probably be a similar experience as using the DirectX API. BREW's drawing abilities are extremely limited though.
poss74
poss74
Quote:
Original post by sathenzar
I would like to stick to a C++ based system b/c I don't know to much about Java. I will learn it if I have to but it'd be easier for me if it was C++ based.


If you know C++, you should pick up Java easy enough. [smile]
If at first you don't succeed, call it version 1.0You don't stop playing because you get old; you get old when you stop playing.
sathenzar
sathenzar
ok, thank you for your help. I will continue to research BREW for now. If any one has any suggustions on any prime sites that get you started into BREW game programming that would be great. I know it wouldn't be much use now, since I don't know BREW I shouldn't go into Game Programming via BREW. I would just like it as reference in the furture. Thanks for all the help so far everyone has been really helpful.
shmoove
shmoove
I think you should give Java a chance. The problem with going with BREW is that it is a closed platform. Unless you are a registered developer (and that costs $$$) you won't have any way to get the games onto the phone, they will only run on an emulator. So BREW is not really a viable option for hobbyists and small indies. If you are hell bent on sticking to C++ then use Symbian.

shmoove
shmoove
shmoove
Quote:
Original post by Miranda
I don't know anything about BREW because we don't have any handsets that support it here in Australia (is it available outside the US???)

One provider here in Israel uses BREW, and AFAIK it is quite common in some far-eastern countries.
BREW is strongly linked to the CDMA technology (Qualcomm is the maker of most CDMA chipsets and also BREW), so usually anywhere there is a CDMA network there will be at least a few BREW phones (though this is not really mandated, a CDMA phone can be J2ME). Australia and Europe are GSM-land so BREW is practically non-existent there.

shmoove
Miranda
Miranda
cool, thanks for that shmoove. But we do have a CDMA network here as well, it covers the more remote areas, so that majority of the people use GSM, but there are plenty of CDMA phones out there as well.

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