Professional Palm OS Programming is everything programmers need to create applications for the world?s most popular operating system for handheld devices.
Veteran Palm developer Lonnon Foster, who has been developing commercial applications for the platform since its introduction nearly a decade ago, provides readers with hands-on instruction, lots of code, and advice that only comes from the trenches ? giving readers everything they need to build cutting edge applications and take advantage of the features of both Garnet and Cobalt. Coverage includes: Building forms, menus and user interfaces Managing memory Tying into Palm?s standard applications such as the Calendar, Phonebook, or Tasks Storing program data on removable storage cards Building network enabled applications Creating web applications for Palm Working with Palm OS new support for Web Services Programm ing for new device features such as jog dials, rocker switches, 5-way navigators Working with sounds, graphics, multimedia, and new high-resolution color screens Encrypting and decrypting data Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and wireless networking
and more?
User review
PODS confusion,, decent book
I found this to be the only Palm Programming book available when I was attempting to learn to program my Palm. It certainly takes a bit of disassembling to figure out how the nuts and bolts work but it is actually a decent book.
As previously mentioned, there seems to be a lack of info about the PODS compiler because most all of the samples are written for codewarrior. I found this to be a bit frustrating because I spent a lot of time reworking the resource files to make the samples work.
Other than that, I would say the book covers quite a bit of material and is certainly ample for an intermediate programmer (with some C/C++ experience). If you are using the free Palm Developer Suite (PODS) just know that you will have to do a bit of reading on your own (reading Palm documentation) to figure out how to make things work.
I'd like to see more samples,, perhaps I'll write a few myself and start a website to help other novices like me learn the basics.
User review
Needs re-organized
This book would be better if it was re-organized. By chapter 4 you are entering a program, but you can't run it until after several more chapters, as creating resource files isn't discussed until chapter 6. Without the resource files (icons, form definition, etc.) the program can't run. Sort of disappointing after typing in all that code.
The books web site includes complete code for those using either CodeWarrior 8 or 9, but if you are using PODS you are out of luck. It discusses PODS, but as something of an after thought. The PODS documentation will serve you far better.
I also hope you are already familiar with C/C++ programming.
All the information to program for Palm OS appears to be here, but you will have to hunt around for it and be familiar with what you are doing.
Definitely not a raw beginner's guide.
User review
Programming book
Book arrived in VG condition and contents are as indicated on information blurb supplied by Amazon. Altogether very satisfied.
