John Kennedy and Larry Roof

April 25, 2001

Welcome to Two for the Road, a new column devoted to the development of mobile applications. Twice monthly, we will deliver topics that demonstrate how to leverage eMbedded Visual C++®, eMbedded Visual Basic®, SQL Server™ 2000, Windows® CE edition, and ADOCE to create cool, portable solutions.

There will be two of us working on the column. John Kennedy will handle the eVC++ side of things; Larry Roof will bring you the eVB coverage.

Who Are these Guys?

Hi, I'm John. During the day I work for Microsoft as a Technical Writer/Programmer in the Visual C++ group. However, by night, I live a secret life as a Pocket PC developer. You may have seen or used some of my applications, as I've been at it for years now. In fact, it was back in 1997 when I saw the Philips Velo 1 Windows CE Handheld PC advertised and sent my unfortunate mother across the Atlantic to buy one for me. Then I managed to wrangle copies of the very expensive development tools and got coding.

There's something about carrying around your own applications in your pocket that appeals to me. I've loved watching the evolution of the Windows CE platform into today's Pocket PC, and consider these portable devices as the first true "personal" computer. One of my favorite pastimes is writing software that helps personalize these devices, and I hope to touch on that several times over the coming months. The good news is that the development tools have also evolved and are now considerably better and cheaper (in fact, free!), so there's no excuse not to give it a go.

Hi, I'm Larry. I'm a partner at tonked, a firm that specializes in the development of mobile solutions and training. You may have seen me at a technical conference where I frequently speak. I am the author of Professional Visual Basic Windows CE from Wrox Press. Before "escaping over the wall", I spent 15 years designing and developing real-time data gathering systems for a large corporation. The good life of a technology nomad, some solid time on the coast surfing, and extensive psychiatric care has rid me of most of my corporate baggage.

Several years ago, I stumbled upon my first Windows CE device. I've been hooked ever since. Today, public interest in mobile applications is poised to explode. Both technology and the acceptance of mobile devices are converging into what could turn into a quantum shift in the industry. Just as the introduction of PCs did in the '80s, mobile devices will make us wonder how we ever got through the day without a computer in our hand. Now, if we can just get the wireless providers to give us coverage that is larger than a phone booth, we'll be set.

eVC++ or eVB, That Is the Question

The Pocket PC development platform offered by Microsoft—the embedded Visual Tools—consists of two main language tools:

• eMbedded Visual C++
• eMbedded Visual Basic

Both are extremely powerful languages suitable for creating professional-quality applications. However, at some point you'll need to make a decision as to which one you should use.

If you already have a favorite language, then the decision might seem cut-and-dry, but there are a few extra considerations to keep in mind. If you're looking for an environment that makes it easy to drag-and-drop a user interface together in minutes, eVB is the one for you. Although eVB is more an implementation of Visual Basic Script than a full-blown desktop Visual Basic, there is still support for COM, databases, and ActiveX® controls.

Now, John would cough loudly at this point and mutter "VB? That's a wuss's language" under his breath, but that's just his way and you should ignore him. The reason for John's intolerance is that he likes to get as deep into the Pocket PC operating system as possible. This means tapping into such user interface goodies as the Today screen, or even writing high-speed action games. This is the kind of development which eVC++ excels at—so bear that in mind when picking a development language.

Sites of Interest

If you are new to development of mobile applications, you may find the following sites helpful:

Microsoft's Pocket PC site: Provides comprehensive information on the Pocket PC for both the end user and developer. As a developer, you'll find technical resources and you can download the Microsoft eMbedded Tools 3.0 for free.

SQL Server 2000 Windows CE Edition: The product homepage for SQL Server CE contains product information, case studies, and the latest news on this product.

deVBuzz: If you are an eVB developer, this is one site you will want to add to your Favorites list. deVBuzz provides articles and reviews for seasoned eVB developers as well as novices just starting out.

tonked: The only face-to-face eVB training available today; tonked offers a five-day comprehensive course that leads you from getting started to delivering a completed application.

PocketPCProject: A great discussion board sets this site apart from the rest. Packed with information for both eVC++ and eVB programmers, if you're looking for answers this is a good place to start.

MobileCoders: If you are looking to get in touch with other developers or advertise your skills, this Web Site is ideal.

CEGadgets: Some say that good programmers know when to re-use code rather than writing it from scratch. If this is your philosophy too, the CEGadgets site has a nice collection of controls ready to download and use.

VBCE: If you're looking for discussion groups, example code to download, tutorials, and eVB tips and tricks, then this is the Web Site for you.

Books of Interest

There are a number of good books available on developing applications with both eVC++ and eVB including:

Programming Windows CE, Microsoft Press, ISBN 1572318562: Desktop Windows programmers all have a copy of a book by Charles Pretzold on their shelves; it's an unwritten law, like toast falls jelly-side down, or the hard disk video recorder can't record Friends and Survivor. This is the Windows CE equivalent. It was written before the Pocket PC appeared, but it's still a vital book. Moreover, the good news is that an updated version is coming out in June.

Teach Yourself Windows CE Programming in 24 Hours, SAMS, ISBN 0672316587: Normally I'm not a fan of "learn how to service a nuclear reactor in a day" type books, but this one is different. If anything, the title is misleading as it's more a collection of useful topics than a classroom-in-a-book. The killer is that it's written by the guys from bSquare, the premier Windows CE development house, so get it.

The Windows CE Technology Tutorial, Addison Wesley, ISBN 0201616424: This book by Chris Muench is one of the most up-to-date Windows CE development books and concentrates on teaching development using eVC++ to create a COM-based database application. Worth getting if COM is your cup of tea.

Professional Visual Basic Windows CE, Wrox Press, ISBN 1861001622: While this book was written for Visual Basic for Windows CE, much of the content still applies to eVB. It covers the CE version of Visual Basic, design techniques, ADOCE, and how to manage data on mobile devices.

Upcoming Shows

The following upcoming conferences can be used to sharpen your mobile development skills:

Microsoft Windows Embedded Developer Conference EUROPE

May 2-4, 2001, RAI Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Attend this inaugural event in Europe! The Microsoft Windows Embedded Devcon is the only place to get three days of technical drilldown on the Microsoft Windows Embedded Family of Products. Speakers include members of the embedded development teams building Microsoft embedded operating systems and tools. In addition to the technical sessions, there will be an exhibit hall, hands-on labs, and an evening party.

Microsoft Tech·Ed 2001

June 17-21, 2001, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA

Microsoft Tech·Ed 2001 is the premier technical education event for building solutions on the Microsoft platform. This year's conference extends the Microsoft .NET Framework into the realm of mobile devices with a complete, end-to-end solution for mobility, including devices, servers, and application development.

Show Us Your Stuff

Do you have a mobile solution that was built using eVC++, eVB, ADOCE, or SQL Server CE? Do you think that it would be of interest to our readers? Let us know by dropping us a line at lroof@tonked.com or johnkenn@microsoft.com. You might just get a visit from the Two for the Road crew with a T-Shirt in hand.

Send Us Your Tips

Do you have a mobile development tip to share with our readers? We are looking for the coolest, most clever, way out there, 'I bet you never thought of that' ideas. If we use one of your tips in our column, you'll receive a collector's edition T-shirt. Well, maybe just a plain old T-shirt, but you will get a T-Shirt.

Next Issue

In our next column, we will be heading out to Michigan, the hotbed of mobile application development. You will learn first hand how to get started developing applications with eMbedded Visual Basic. Until then, we will be on the road, in search of cool mobile applications.

 

John Kennedy is a Technical Writer/Programmer in the Visual C++ group by day and leads a secret life as a Pocket PC developer by night.

Larry Roof is a partner at tonked, a firm that specializes in the development of mobile solutions and training. He's the author of Professional Visual Basic Windows CE, available from Wrox Press.