[PHLAK]

I'm a new BlackBerry user, got a Storm the day after release, and want to start programming for it. I've never used Java before (that's what the BB OS uses right?) but have lots of experience with PHP and have an experienced friend that's going to help me learn Java. He's also lending me a big Java book he said helped him out a lot.

I've already started reading up on object-oriented code and will start doing some "Hello World" program tutorials on my next day off, but I'm looking for some resources on programming for the BlackBerry OS specifically. Is there any good resources you can recommend? Websites are best but books or other resources are acceptable too.

Thanks for any help you can provide! I look forward to bringing some useful apps to the BB community in the future.

[fbrimm]

PHLAK,

Start by downloading the JDE and working through the sample apps that come with it. You'll want to match the version of the JDE to the version of the OS you plan to run on. Download the RIM Developer Guides and follow along with the sample apps. Then just roll up your sleeves and start coding. A little bit of trial and error and you will be well on your way.

You can also download the Eclipse plug-in if you have any experience with Eclipse (sounds like you don't, but you never know). I don't think the Eclipse plug-in is as easy to use with the sample apps, but you can still get them to work eventually. I mention the Eclipse plug-in because this is probably where RIM is going to focus their attention more and more with in the future, so you could save yourself a step in the future if the RIM JDE is no longer supported. It probably isn't as easy to work with if you are starting from scratch.

You can also work with .NET and Visual Studio of you want to go that route or the MDS Studio but you are somewhat limited with what you can do on the device. It all depends on what you want to do with your app. If you want complete control over everything the device can do, then Java would be the way to go. If you want to work with web services, then either the .NET plug-in or the MDS Studio would be the way to go. The .NET and MDS Studio are probably the quickest way to get an application up, but again it depends on what you are trying to do.

Hope that helps.

fbrimm

[PHLAK]

Thanks, I'll look into the RIM Developer Guides.

[koic]

Hi,
there is a "small" issue I encountered running simulator (8830) with Eclipse .
I do not have JDE (itself) installed because I use Eclipse(3.4.1)+JDE Plug-in(componentpack 4.5).
First, I do have box xxx8220;Launch Mobile Data System Connection Service...xxx8221; in General tab checked.
I start simulator and then simply try to use internal Browser from Applications.
I also have console automatically popped up with some <MDS-CS> messages.
And Ixxx8217;ve got error xxx8220;Unable to connect to the selected Mobile Data Servicexxx8221;.
Somehow default configuration does not work(!?)
So, what do I have to 'fix' to make that Browser work?

[chersull]

I am a developer who is working on sending HTML emails to clients with blackberry 8830s. I've downloaded the simulator and the Email_MDX exec, however I honestly have no idea how to get the browser in the simulator to work. (I am a .net/Microsoft/SQL Server developer with a little Dreamweaver experience.) When I try to open the MDX .exe file it tells me it is not a valid Win32 application. I'm assuming that somehow I need to open it from the simulator.

The browser in the simulator gives me the error message "Unable to connect to the selected Mobile Data Service, please try again later. If the problem persists please contact your administrator."

The closest that I believe I've come to getting this whole thing to work is by right-clicking the MDS .exe download in the Firefox download window, and choosing open from there, which opens the Launch Application window. From here I choose FledgeLauncher.exe and click OK. I then get the Launch Simulator window, where I select the 8830 - 4.0.3.124 profile and click go.

The result is the simulator is launched, but it's "screen" is all white with a little graphic in the middle that I think is supposed to be a browser with an X over it and 507 written across the bottom.

HELP!!!