Terminology

Platform Builder for Microsoft Windows CE 5.0

Terminology

Some of the terminology in Microsoft® Windows® CE 5.0 differs from terminology in previous versions of Windows CE.

The following list provides definitions for terms that are new and widely used in Windows CE 5.0:

Catalog item: Any item that you can select from the Catalog.
design template: A pre-defined selection of operating system (OS) components that Microsoft provides for a category of target devices. A design template is a starting point. When saved or modified, the design template becomes an OS design.
OS design: A selection of Catalog items that defines the characteristics of an OS. You can begin an OS design with or without a design template. An OS design corresponds to a set of Sysgen variables.
run-time image: Software to deploy on a target device, or the same software running on a target device. A run-time image contains the OS and associated software.

The following list provides definitions for other terms that are widely used in Windows CE 5.0:

board support package (BSP): Software that is specific to a hardware board. This software typically includes the boot loader, OEM adaptation layer (OAL), and board-specific device drivers.
Catalog: A container of individually selectable units of Windows CE functionality.
component: The smallest unit of functionality that you can add to an OS design.
configuration: A selection of Catalog items and a selection of build options.
hardware platform: A hardware architecture for running a Windows CE OS and associated software.
module: An EXE or a DLL that is a part of a Windows CE OS.
project: A tracking mechanism for a collection of files that you can use to build functionality into a Windows CE OS.
target device, Windows CE–based device: An instance of a hardware architecture or an instance of a combined hardware and software architecture.
workspace: A container for all files related to an OS design.

The following list provides definitions for terms that are sparingly used in Windows CE 5.0:

feature: A comprehensive technology that Microsoft presents as a single entity.
platform: A hardware and software architecture, on a target device, that results from downloading a run-time image to the target device.

The following list shows terms that are not used in Windows CE 5.0 but that were used in earlier versions of Windows CE:

anchored feature, unanchored feature: Windows CE 5.0 refers to Catalog items that you select and Catalog items selected by a design template as user-specified Catalog items.
build release directory: Windows CE 5.0 uses the term release directory. Previous releases of Windows CE use the terms build release directory and release directory synonymously.
custom configuration, platform configuration: Windows CE 5.0 refers to a selection of Catalog items as an OS design, and refers to a selection of Catalog items and build options as a configuration.
development platform: Windows CE 5.0 refers to a hardware architecture as a hardware platform, and refers to an instance of a hardware architecture as a target device.
OS image: Windows CE 5.0 refers to a selection of Catalog items as an OS design, and refers to software to deploy or software already deployed on a target device as a run-time image.