Ans:- Symbian is a powerful OS developed in C++ and hence can access many of the Mobile Features which normal programs developed in Java or probably Python cannot access. Now Symbian has its monopoly on almost all types of mobile phones except that plam devices which uses Windows and Linuxes.

 Q      The Symbian Programming.

Ans:  Since Symbian is developed in C++ it allows the developers to write programs in its own native language often called “Symbian C++”. Its SDK’s are freely available on the symbian site, Nokia’s site and the newlc site. Here are the different versions of symbian and its SDK’s till now

 • S60 3rd Edition – Symbian OS v9.1

• S60 2nd Edition Feature Pack 3 – Symbian OS v8.1

• S60 2nd Edition Feature Pack 2 – Symbian OS v8.0a

• S60 2nd Edition Feature Pack 1 – Symbian OS

v7.0s enhanced

• S60 2nd Edition – Symbian OS v7.0s

• S60 1st Edition – Symbian OS v6.1

 Q      But why Symbian C++ and not Java [J2ME] or Python.

Ans: General ppl normaly feel that mobile applications are always Java Based. Have you ever given a thought “Whats a SIS file then?”. I don’t think so. That’s Application setup file which is written in Symbian C++.

 J2ME is a high level programming language and is used extensively for mobile programming and for developing Applications. But when it comes to accessing SIM specific actions of lower level stuff of Mobile Phones J2ME completely fails. On the contrary Java applications always have been slower than the native applications bcoz of its interpreted nature.

 C and C++ have always been more powerful than any programming language available and so is the Symbian C++ language. Although there are few Symbian developers at this stage as compared to Java and VB and Python its still a growing community.

Rather I would say the amount of Symbian Applications would be more than that of J2ME.

 

Q     So, should I prefer Symbian rather than J2ME ??

Ans: Well, NO. if you are intrested in Computer Desktop based applications, Enterprise Applications of probably Commercial applications in VB or VB.NET or even in case of mobile phones gaming and stuff then I would say… “Better Stay where you are”.

And if you’re fed up with those high level programming desktop n all, using Microsoft’s RAD tools or even the simpler Java Life and wanna get into the mobile world with a real Hardcore programming with all the header files writing and such sort of stuff then the word for you is “Symbian C++”. Learning it is not a childs play. I by mistake got into it. You can get your computer fucked up with all those IDE’s and Symbian SDK’s if you don’t know how to install and run Symbian Application only on an Emulator. And on the more Symbian C++ has a bad pointer concept which is still difficult for me to understand. So my advice, think before Jumping into it. I went mad learning it.

Internet References and Symbian Resources:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbian_OS

http://www.symbian.com

http://www.symbian.com/developer/sdks/sdks_series60.asp

http://www.symbian.com/developer/sdks/sdks_series60.asp

http://www.symbian.com/developer

http://forum.nokia.com

http://www.newlc.com

http://www.uiq.com/dev

Reference Books: Symbian Press

Developing Software for Symbian OS

by Steve Babin

Symbian OS C++ for Mobile Phones – Volume 1

by Richard Harrison

Symbian OS C++ for Mobile Phones – Volume 2

by Richard Harrison

Symbian OS Explained

by Jo Stichbury