Metrowerks Releases New Tools for Palm OS Developers
Company Also Plans to Deliver Palm OS Tools Targeting Enterprise
Application Development, New Palm OS Programming Course
MACWORLD EXPO, SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.-January 9, 2000-Metrowerks, the
leading supplier of commercial software development tools for the Palm
OS(r) handheld computing platform, today announced a new set of tools that
will make it easier for developers to create applications for the growing
number of handheld devices on the market.
The company also announced today plans to release a version of its
CodeWarrior(r) tool suite targeting enterprise application development on
the Palm OS platform, as well as a new Palm OS programming course on its
CodeWarriorU.com web site.
“Metrowerks’ CodeWarrior development tools have played an important part in
the proliferation of the Palm OS platform and the success of the Palm(tm)
handheld computer,” said Gabriel Acosta-Lopez, senior director, platform
alliances and partner services, Palm, Inc. “By providing an integrated
development environment for the Palm OS platform, Metrowerks has enabled
thousands of developers to create innovative applications for handheld
computers.”
CodeWarrior for Palm OS Platform, Version 7.0, is the newest version of the
popular development tool set that was used to create the original Palm OS
platform. The new tools will allow software developers to reach market
quickly with applications for handheld devices based on the Palm OS
platform, including: Palm Powered(tm) handhelds from Palm, Inc., the
Handspring Visor, the IBM WorkPad, Kyocera’s pdQ Smartphone, the Sony CLIE,
the TRGpro handheld and Symbol Technologies’ SPT handheld.
The most widely used development tool set for the Palm OS platform,
CodeWarrior tools are used by more than 35,000 Palm OS developers worldwide.
The new tools are hosted on Apple Mac OS and Microsoft Windows and include
an improved user interface that will make it easier for developers to
create their applications and get them to market faster.
Stated Neil Rhodes, co-author, Palm Programming, the Developer’s Guide: “I
used the beta of CodeWarrior for Palm OS, Version 7.0, and was impressed
with the improvements to the user interface, along with the ability to
debug over USB. I plan on upgrading.”
New features in CodeWarrior for Palm OS Platform, Version 7.0
* The CodeWarrior Integrated Development Environment (IDE) v4.1: Features
an improved, easier-to-use editor that includes new features such as a new
Find utility and a new, powerful C/C++ symbol browser.
* Improved Linker: Checks developers’ code for blocks of reserved memory
called “segments” that are too big for Palm OS and the underlying CPU
architecture to handle. If a developer tries to use a block of memory that
is greater than the inherent 64K limit, the linker detects it and flags it
for attention. The linker also prevents the generation of invalid PIRC
files.
* Improved debugger: Features error checking and USB debugging support for
Handspring Visors. The debugger also has the ability to show XML register
details of the 68K CPU’s general-purpose registers.
* Improved Compiler: Conforms to the latest ANSI/ISO C/C++ standard, and
features inline assembly language support.
Palm OS Tools for Enterprise Applications
Metrowerks also announced plans to deliver an enterprise version of its
CodeWarrior for Palm OS tools. This product will enable developers to
create applications that connect Palm OS-based devices to enterprise
databases and applications. The company expects to release the enterprise
tools for Palm OS in the third quarter of 2001.
“Our goal with Version 7.0 of CodeWarrior for Palm OS Platform is to
deliver the industry’s best, most complete tool set for developing
applications for handheld devices,” said Greg Stoner, vice president of
marketing, Metrowerks. “Now, we will turn our attention to helping Palm OS
developers expand their opportunities by delivering a set of tools that
will enable them to create enterprise-class applications for handhelds
using the same integrated development environment they already know and
use.”
The CodeWarrior for Palm OS enterprise tools will include the standard
CodeWarrior for Palm OS Platform tools, as well as Java tools, a CDK
(Conduit Development Kit), and target support for x86 and 68K. Third party
components will also be included.
Palm OS Programming Course
In addition to providing development tools for the Palm OS platform,
Metrowerks plans to deliver a free Palm OS programming course in the first
quarter of this year on its CodeWarriorU.com web site. The course, “Palm OS
Programming With CodeWarrior,” will provide instruction on writing C/C++
programs for the Palm OS platform. Programmers will become familiar with
building, debugging and deploying Palm OS applications, and will learn how
to create user interfaces and how to run Java programs on the Palm OS
platform. The course is being developed and taught by Eric Giguere, author
of Palm Database Programming: The Complete Developer’s Guide.
Pricing and Availability: CodeWarrior for Palm OS Platform, Version 7.0
The CodeWarrior for Palm OS Platform, Version 7.0 tool set is available now
for US$369 MSRP (U.S. manufacturer suggested retail price), direct from
Metrowerks or from DevDepot.
About Metrowerks
Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Metrowerks develops,
markets and supports CodeWarrior hardware and software development
solutions for a number of operating systems and the most popular
microprocessors. CodeWarrior allows programmers to build applications from
one unique integrated development environment (IDE). In September of 1999,
Metrowerks became an independently operating subsidiary of Motorola Inc.
For more information, please visit the Metrowerks web site at
http://www.metrowerks.com.