BlackBerry Programming 101 – How to Get Began With BlackBerry Software program Development

The achievements of more recent BlackBerry products like the Pearl, Curve, Daring and Storm have allowed RIM (Analysis in Movement) to penetrate the shopper smartphone current market and go head-to-head with the Apple Iphone as an software system. If you have been ignoring the BlackBerry platform because it was far too Organization-centered for your purposes, it may well be time to especially goal the BlackBerry. Here is how you get begun.

It’s Java Time

BlackBerry improvement for all the latest versions is accomplished solely in Java. So if you’re not a robust Java programmer, now’s the time to brush up on your Java programming techniques. (C# programmers will discover the transition to Java fairly easy, the languages are incredibly close in most respects.) Really don’t learn about the newest Java features, having said that, simply because the BlackBerry system is created on leading of Java Micro Edition (Java ME), which is by itself a derivative of Java edition 1.3. So overlook all the extravagant (but useful) language functions released in Java 1.5 — generics, enumerations, and so on — you cannot use these in BlackBerry programming. You cannot also use most of the library lessons you are familiar with — they are just not there. A little subset of the Java Typical Edition (Java SE) lessons are supported, as very well as a variety of BlackBerry-distinct classes.

Java Micro Version?

When you’ve got brushed up on your Java, you need to spend a bit of time being familiar with the Java ME platform, which was previously known as Java 2 Micro Edition, or J2ME for small. You have to have to have an understanding of the principles of configurations and profiles, and in unique the CLDC and MIDP specifications. You are going to come across heaps of info about these in several guides and on Sun’s Java progress web-site.

The BlackBerry System

Just after studying about Java ME, it truly is time to explore the BlackBerry system. The BlackBerry platform is dependent on the CLDC and includes aid for MIDP 2.. Having said that, a massive range of BlackBerry-precise classes are also offered. Which brings you to the 1st problem you’ll encounter: are you heading to compose a BlackBerry application or a MIDP application? In a MIDP software you happen to be constrained to only use the APIs exposed by the CLDC and MIDP expectations. Your software will run on the BlackBerry and on most cellphones, but it will not be in a position to use any of the BlackBerry’s specific attributes. You can use any MIDP-compatible enhancement device, this sort of as the Solar Java Wireless Toolkit for CLDC (formerly recognised as the J2ME Wireless Toolkit), to generate your applications.

Most application builders choose to develop BlackBerry-specific applications. This signifies studying the BlackBerry-unique APIs — such as new consumer interface lessons — and using the BlackBerry Java Advancement Atmosphere (JDE) to produce your programs. The JDE, which is no cost to download, operates with the conventional Java Software Progress Kit and gives you with all the applications required to generate, package deal, take a look at and debug BlackBerry applications. You you should not even need to have a BlackBerry handheld, for the reason that the JDE consists of a full-highlighted BlackBerry machine simulator. A complete established of JavaDocs is supplied that describes all the lessons and interfaces offered to programmers.

Just after downloading and installing the JDE, you may want to go through the developer’s guides that come with the JDE and glimpse at the sample purposes that are delivered with it. Then begin your progress by writing a few very simple purposes to get a come to feel for the BlackBerry APIs and the applications.

Get A BlackBerry Handheld

While you can create and exam your applications for no cost, at some position you will want to operate the software on an actual BlackBerry handheld. This will price tag you cash, of course, and so it can be not something you’ll want to do right until you might be major about creating BlackBerry programs. On-unit testing is important to ensuring that the software works accurately, for the reason that the simulator is not a fantastic emulation system.

If you are certainly serious about BlackBerry application improvement, take into consideration also signing up for 1 of the BlackBerry developer programs for added assistance and early obtain to new gadgets and APIs. You really should also investigate RIM’s other BlackBerry developer means. There are also third-celebration discussion boards and publications available to enable you study the BlackBerry system.

Summary

BlackBerry programming is not hard if you know some Java and you have an understanding of the constraints and constraints of the underlying Java ME system. You have to find out a new established of APIs and use new improvement tools, but in the close it can be just yet another variety of Java programming.