dop’s blog

Did you know that one of the two most popular mobile platforms, Windows Mobile (or Windows CE 4.2) lacks proper Java support?

Yes, I found it now… While being a happy owner of an older PalmIIIxe (the other popular platform), I received a Dell Axim x30 as a present. And of course I started to explore ways to develop on this platform.

Since I am fond of open source software, I seldom choose open source tools to develop. So I googled a bit and concluded the following:

1. If you want native code support, then you must choose Microsoft’s VisualStudio 2005. Everything else, like GNUWINCE 1.0 is old and out-dated. Also, Pocket C/C++ and PocketC# do not have a site, their developer, Vitaliy Pronkin, has disapeared. And I cannot find something that works on Linux. However, check out PellesC, it seems nice (Windows only).
2. If you want Java support, forget it.. There is no official Sun JVM, and every other is commercial and it must be paid (CrEme, IBM’s J9).

So, the only viable alternative are Waba and SuperWaba, which use a subset of the Java language and are promising. And there’s Ewe, that acts as a Java wrapper.

When I test them, I’ ll publish my opinion on them….

Last minute update: there is a new OSS project to create a J2SE-compatible JVM. It is Mysaifu JVM, but it is rather new - started on April 2005.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 15th, 2005 at 10:30 pm and is filed under Tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.