Categories Programming

Continued from The Basic Development Cycle

Developing applications for Windows CE is only one opportunity for developing with the operating system. While the desktop versions of Windows can be ported to different PC compatibles, the kits for doing this are closely held by Microsoft and its approved OEMs. Windows CE is different in that the Platform Builder kit, while expensive, is available through retail channels. Thus, Windows CE programmers can not only develop applications, they can develop modifications of the operating system itself.

The Platform Builder kit provides example source code for the OEM abstraction layer (OAL), which is the layer of code written by the OEM to adapt Windows CE to specific hardware. The OAL includes the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) code to support the needs of the Windows CE kernel as well as drivers for built-in hardware such as the keyboard, touch screen and display. Sample source code is also provided for the audio and serial drivers and the PCMCIA controller driver.

The Platform Builder also includes low-level debugging tools. While these tools are primarily designed to assist in porting Windows CE to new hardware platforms, they can also be used when diagnosing intractable problems with application software. Newer versions of Windows CE provide hooks to support a built-in Monte Carlo profiler that can be quite handy for optimizing performance in your application. Finally, the Platform Builder includes extensive documentation on the operation of Windows CE from the OEM perspective.

Windows CE is an interesting programming environment. The Win32 API makes it very similar to programming Windows 98 or NT, but the limitations of the hardware intrude on application design. The slower CPUs and limited memory of most Windows CE devices make you think about your programming in a different way, from an efficiency perspective. In fact, it's kind of refreshing to see programmers actually having to worry about CPU speed and code size in these days of multimegabyte PC applications.

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Published as PC Tech Feature in the 3/23/99 issue of PC Magazine.

Related Links
• Windows CE dvs. Mini-Notebooks -- PC Labs 2/9/99
• Software to Go: Palm/Windows CE Software -- PC Labs 2/9/99
• PalmPilot Software Awards -- Softwar Library
• Handheld PCs -- ZDProducts
• The Place to Select and Buy Portable PCs -- computershopper.com