VB for 9X00

Currently, there are three solutions to programming in a Basic-like programming language on your Communicator.

- SBasic
Not too expensive, has nice graphical features, but the biggest drawback is that it cannot create standalone applications. To be able to run your programs, the end user has to buy SBasic as well. Advantage: development can be done on device completely.
- AppForge MobileVB - now included in CrossFire
Builds standalone applications from VB6, VB.NET and Miscroft C#. Hugely expensive (1000US$ for developer license, 125US$ for 5 client licenses). Needs a runtime to the run the applications on the phone. Apps developed in VB6 are usually extremely slow running on the target device. Development has to be done on PC.
- OPL (Open Programming Language)
Basic like syntax, creates standalone applications (also needs a runtime but performance is very good). Development can be done on PC and the device itself. And best of all, it's completely FREE.

So, if you really want to use VB6, the only choice right now is CrossFire. If you don't mind spending a little time learning the slightlly different syntax of OPL (lots of help available), OPL is the only logical choice.

The only problem with OPL is that it appears to be a dieing language,

Lack of new support,

:frown:

Shame,

Carl,

Who told you OPL is dying language? With the new 9300/9500 Communicators more and more people are (re)discovering OPL. Almost weekly a new OPL program is released for the UIQ or Communicator. The OPL programs directory is the most frequently updated page at the OPL wiki (http://www.allaboutopl.com/wiki/OPLProgramsDirectory). So, OPL a dying language? I don't think so!

The lack of new support is mostly due to the fact that currently only two developers are working on OPL itself (in their spare time). It's very hard to find other C++ developers who are willing to spend some time on further enhancing this language.

But, despite that, OPL is being worked on (yes it is going slowly). We're on the brink of releasing a new version that fixes some big problems for the different platforms. And, implementation of new features is underway:
- better graphics support (support for multiple graphics format, scaling, etc)
- Telephony API support
- Camera API support
- etc
The only thing that prevents these features to become a reality soon is the lack of time. So, if you are a Symbian developer or know someone who is, why not invite them to join the OPL developer's team?

OPL for the Nokia 9500 was released on the 28-11-2004 and since then there has been no updates (That I have found) for supporting the 9500's extra features, (Like Bluetooth, Camera, Phone, SMS, MMS........)

I would luv to be proven completely wrong,

Even in the AAS Develop section, there are unfinished guides, 23-08-2003 (Last update),

I have learnt programming on VB and can just about get my head around it, C++ just seams confusing to me, :frown: and OPL seamed to open the posibility of me programming for my phone, (I'd like to make a simple GPS display connecting to a bluetooth GPS),

Carl,

The fact that there haven't been any updates is that there are no real major bugs in the OPL runtime for 9300/9500. Of course there are some incompatibilities and minor problems reported, but most of these will be addressed in the upcoming new release.

As to phone specific support: you have to keep in mind that OPL was originally written for Psion's range of organizers. That means although the language is pretty complete as a programming language, it lacks phone specific support since these organizers didn't contain a phone. And, since OPL is not only available for the Nokia Communicator but also for UIQ and Series 60 all having a different feature set, support for these kind of features will probably never make it in the language itself.

This support however can (and will) be provided using OPX's (language extensions). But, considering that the 9300/9500 haven't been around that long and that there are only two people working on OPL at the moment, it's no wonder that there are not many OPX's available yet. Over the next months you will see a couple of new OPX's though (some of them already mentioned in my previous post).

I don't expect you'll be creating a "simple GPS display" with OPL in the near future though since creating a "simple Bluetooth OPX" is unfortunately not that simple.

I also sincerly hope you'll be proven wrong in the near future. Not that I like to be right, but because I love the ease of programming, the versatility, flexibility and extendability of OPL and I really wish for it to take off again (like it did on the Psion organizers).

Cheers, Arjen