Software development kits
To begin developing applications for Symbian OS you will need a software development kit (SDK). SDKs for Symbian OS support development in both C++ and Java.
They provide:
- binaries and tools to facilitate building and deployment of Symbian OS applications
- full system documentation for APIs and tools
- PC-based emulation of Symbian OS phones
- example applications with supporting documentation
SDKs are built based on a particular UI platform for Symbian OS. A UI platform provides a distinct UI and an associated set of system applications for such tasks as messaging, browsing, telephony, multimedia and contact/calendar management. These applications typically make use of generic application engines provided by Symbian OS. UI platforms intended to support the installation of third-party applications written in native C++ have to be supported by an SDK which defines that UI platform, or at least a particular version of it. Click the links to find more information on the SDKs for the following UI platforms: UIQ S60
The most important thing to know when developing an application for a particular phone is the associated UI platform. It is then important to find the Symbian OS version the phone is based on. You can then decide which SDK you need to obtain. In most cases, working with an SDK, you will be able to target a single version of your application at all phones based on the same UI platform and Symbian OS version.
To read or contribute additional information on software development kits, visit the Wiki Extra.
FAQs
Here you can find the answers to the most frequently asked developer questions, together with other useful tech tips.More