Programming
From OESF
| Table of contents |
What languages can I use to program my Zaurus?
- C++
You can program Qtopia applications using C++, and then cross-compile them for the Zaurus. ...
Last updated: 2002.Apr.06
- C
Plain text console programs, and programs written to use the Framebuffer, or using SDL, for example, can be written in C, and then cross-compiled for the Zaurus.
Last updated: 2002.Apr.06
- Java
Since the Zaurus comes, by default, with a Java Virtual Machine (Insignia's "Jeode"), you can run Java programs on it. (No cross-compiling is needed, of course!)
Applies to: ROM(s) Official Sharp ROMs
Last updated: 2002.Apr.06
- Pascal
The FPC (http://www.freepascal.org/) (FreePascal) compiler supports many platforms, including ARM. Sample pascal code for the Zaurus can be found on FPC Qt binding (http://users.pandora.be/Jan.Van.hijfte/qtforfpc/qtedemo.html)
Last updated: 2005.Dec.30
What languages can I use ON my Zaurus?
- Shell scripting (eg, BASH)
By default, the Zaurus comes with the BASH shell, so you can write BASH shell scripts on the Zaurus.
Last updated: 2002.Apr.06
- C and C++
If you have 20MB of space available on a CF or SD card, you can install ZGCC (http://s91215199.onlinehome.us/zaurus/), a build of the GNU C and C++ compilers which run on the Zaurus! (People have even had luck compiling Qtopia applications using it!)
Last updated: 2005.Jun.22
- Java
IBM's Jikes editor, which is available on micronova (http://www.micronova.com/ZAURUS/index.html).
Last updated: 2005.Jun.22
- Perl
You can also get Perl from the Debian project, here (http://ftp.nl.debian.org/debian/pool/main/p/perl/). Be sure to get the "*_arm.deb" packages (e.g., "perl-base_5.6.1-7_arm.deb" and "perl_5.6.1-7-arm.deb").
Then open the 
and use the command "dpkg-deb†-xX†..._arm.deb" to unpack it. It will end up in a "DEBIAN" directory. Use the Unix "mv" to move the files (...) and create symlinks, if needed.
Source: Yu-Phing Ong
Last updated: 2002.Apr.08
- Python
http://www.riverbankcomputing.co.uk/pyqt/ (http://www.riverbankcomputing.co.uk/pyqt/) provides selever IPKs of Python sized for the Zaurus. They also furnish the PyQt Python binding for Qtopia, which allows you to program Qt applications using Python!
Source: Gilles Fedak
Last updated: 2002.Apr.06
What editors can I use to program the Zaurus?
- VI
The VI editor comes with the Zaurus. You can just open a and type "vi†filename".
Last updated: 2002.Apr.01
- tkcEditor
theKompany.com (http://www.thekompany.com) has a commercial editor for the Zaurus which does color syntax highlighting for a number of languages (PHP, SQL, HTML, C/C++, XML, Python, Perl, DTML (Zope) and ColdFusion), has word-completion, vertical and horizontal selection, and other programmer-friendly features. It's available here (http://www.thekompany.com/embedded/tkceditor/).
Last updated: 2002.Apr.10
- EIDE
The EIDE editor, written in Java, is an editor for developing Java programs which can be used on the Zaurus. It is available here (http://www.javaconsultants.net/eide/)
Source: Jim Murff
Last updated: 2002.Apr.13
- XiTE (no longer available by author)
XiTE is a port of the Scintilla source code editor.
Source: Giles Fedak
Last updated: 2005.Jun.22
- TinyKate
TinyKate is a port of Kate is available in the Opie feeds.
Source: tumnus
Last updated: 2003.Oct.09
- MicroEMACS
Emacs for embedded/PDA devices http://uemacs.tripod.com/
Source: mike54
Last updated: 2006.Dec.03
How do I make my Qtopia application 'Fast-Load'-able?
- Don't call qApp->quit()
In your C++ source, make sure that you simply close the window for your application, rather than quitting it completely with "qApp->quit();". You should also call "showMainWidget()" on the QPEApplication instance, rather than on the QApplication-inherited "setMainWidget()".
Source: Kent Sandvik
Last updated: 2002.Apr.10
- Add CanFastload=1 to the application's .desktop file
The "Fast-Load" feature is enabled or disabled on a per-application basis. Add the following line to your application's ".desktop" file to enable it:
CanFastload=1
Source: Kent Sandvik
Last updated: 2002.Apr.10
How can I add Help pages for my application?
- Place English HTML files in /opt/Qtopia/help/html
Place your HTML help files in the directory
/opt/Qtopia/help/html
Name the file the same as the executable, with ".html" at the end. (e.g., "coolprog"'s help file would be "/opt/Qtopia/help/html/coolprog.html")
Source: Kent Sandvik, Ben Hui
Last updated: 2003.Jun.09
- Place non-English versions in /opt/Qtopia/help/lang/html
/opt/Qtopia/help/lang/html", where lange is the code for the language (e.g., "de" for German).
Source: Kent SandvikLast updated: 2002.Apr.10
Where can I learn more about programming the Zaurus?
- How to create packages ('.ipk') for the Zaurus
IPKG Howto explains the package format.
Source: Benjamin Meyer
Last updated: 2005.Jun.22
- How to set up your development environment (under Linux)
Compiler Setup explains how to set up the cross-compiler and development environment to compile Zaurus applications using a Linux desktop.
Source: Benjamin Meyer
Last updated: 2003.Jun.09
- How to compile Qtopia programs on the Zaurus
If you have ZGCC installed (see above), QtOnTheZ.txt explains how you can compile Qtopia apps, too!
Source: Jim Murff
Last updated: 2002.Apr.20
- Other Resources
Developing software for a Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 Linux PDA (http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT3312069472.html)
iPKG the Itsy Package Management System (http://www.uk-dave.com/tutorials/zaurus/ipkg.shtml)
Qtopia Developer Information (http://www.qtopia.net/modules/developers/)
see also Developing
Is there any commercial IDE for the Zaurus?
- Metrowerks just released CodeWarrior for the Zaurus for Windows. There is also ZaurusBuilder for Borland JBuilder for packaging and testing Java applications for the Zaurus.
Source: tumnus Last Updated: 2003.Oct.09
Are there any books I can read for information on how to program with Qtopia?
- Yes, there are several
Books On Qt 2 Programming
Programming With Qt (http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=17PTA134H8&mscssid=MK3KLSVR848N8LVBCK9W99LANK293EAC&isbn=0596000642) (2002 version) - Matthias Kalle Dalheimer; Paperback
QT 2 Programming for Linux and Windows 2000 (With CD-ROM) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0130270016/104-5886475-5751953) Patrick Ward; Paperback
Gui Programming With Python : Using the Qt Toolkit (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970033044/qid=1017775488/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/104-5886475-5751953) Boudewijn Rempt
KDE/QT Programming Bible (http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=17PTA134H8&mscssid=MK3KLSVR848N8LVBCK9W99LANK293EAC&isbn=0764546821) Arthur Griffith
Sams Teach Yourself QT Programming in 24 Hours (http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=17PTA134H8&mscssid=MK3KLSVR848N8LVBCK9W99LANK293EAC&isbn=0672318695) Daniel Solin, Benjamin Briandet
Trolltech "How to Learn Qt Page" (http://doc.trolltech.com/3.0/how-to-learn-qt.html)
Source: gerrynjr Last Updated: 2003.Oct.25
Can I try development on the Zaurus without actually changing my workstation's setup?
- zDemoLinux
Yes, there is a bootable CDROM that comes with a complete zaurus development system. It can be found at: http://www.pellicosystems.com/devolinux/zdevolinux/index.html
Source: gerrynjr Last updated: 2003.Oct.31
- zDamn Small Linux
A similar solution is this modified Damn Small Linux: http://kopsisengineering.com/kopsis/SharpZaurusSdkDsl
But you can also use FreePascal (http://www.freepascal.org), its easy cross-compile capabilities void the need for a Live CD. Sample Code here (http://users.pandora.be/Jan.Van.hijfte/qtforfpc/qtedemo.html). The Qt-binding BTW was generated with zDemoLinux.![[Main Page]](/web/20070606234812im_/http://www.oesf.org/stylesheets/images/oesf_logo2_small.png){kind=logo}