Smart Device Development
Visual Studio 2005 offers rich, integrated support for developing software that runs on Windows CE-based smart devices such as Pocket PCs and Smartphones. You can use Visual C# or Visual Basic to write managed applications that run on the .NET Compact Framework, or you can write native applications using Visual C++. Whichever language you choose, you will use the same code editor, designers, and debugger interface as you would use when developing for the PC. Simply select from one of the Smart Device Project templates available for the language of your choice, and begin coding.
Visual Studio also provides emulators that enable you to run and debug your code on your development computer, and tools that simplify the process of packaging your application and its resources into CAB files for deployment to end-user devices.
For the most up-to-date information on smart device projects, visit the Mobile Developer Center.
In This Section
- Getting Started with Smart Device Projects
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Provides overview information on issues specific to device application development, including what's new for Visual Studio 2005, how Visual Studio for Devices relates to other Windows Mobile SDKs and tools, and how to set up your PC to do software development for devices.
- Design Considerations for Smart Device Development
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Provides information on choosing a project type, selecting a development language, and customizing skins for emulators.
- Connecting Smart Devices to Development Computers
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Describes connection methods and options.
- Programming for Devices Using the .NET Compact Framework
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Explains common procedures when developing smart device software using Visual C# or Visual Basic and the .NET Compact Framework.
- Programming for Devices Using Visual C++
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Explains common procedures when using Visual C++ to develop native device applications.
- Debugging Device Projects
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Explains differences from desktop debugging, and provides instructions for debugging solutions comprised of both native and managed code.
- Packaging Device Solutions for Deployment
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Provides instructions for packaging the device applications you develop and transferring them onto one or more target devices.
- Security in Device Projects
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Describes how to sign your files with security certificates and provision devices.
- Samples and Walkthroughs (Smart Device Projects)
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Provides complete projects to illustrate the syntax, structure, and techniques used to solve device programming challenges.
- Reference (Devices)
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Includes reference topics for ATL and MFC for devices, user interface reference for device projects, error messages, and more.