Introduction
- A BlackBerry is a person communications device developed, distributed and serviced by Research In Motion (RIM), a Canadian company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario.
- A Blackberry can provide email, text messaging, web browsing, and telephone service.
Development fields:
- BlackBerry Development fields can be gathered in two types:
1. Java Application Development:
Requirements:
1. A supporting OS to compile and launch your developed application.
2. A Java Software Development Kit (JDK).
3. A BlackBerry Java Development Environment (JDE).
4. Developing IDE (optional).
Specifications:
1. The Supporting OS:
• Microsoft Vista™ or Windows XP or Windows 7.
• Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon™ Desktop Processor 2.5GHz or higher.
• 1.5 GB or more available hard drive space.
• 2 GB RAM or more
• Computer monitor with resolution 1024 x 768 or higher
2. JDK and JDE versions:
• The general rule is this: always use a JDE version equal to or less than the OS version you're targeting.
• For example, if you're targeting OS 4.3 you can use JDE 4.0, 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 to develop your application.
• Once you've determined which JDE to use, download and install the correct version of the JDK.
• For JDE versions 4.0.2 and prior, JDK 1.4 is required and for JDE versions 4.1 to 4.2, use JDK 1.5. For versions 4.3 and higher, JDK 1.6 is required.
• It’s better to use JDK version 1.6 with JDE 4.5 or higher.
3. Developing IDE:
• Usually, it’s better to develop BlackBerry Java Applications using Eclipse.
• There is two options to use Eclipse:
I. Download the full installer for Eclipse with BlackBerry JDE Package.
II. Download The BlackBerry Java Plug-in for Eclipse that includes an updated Eclipse Software Update for the BlackBerry SDK and add it to an existing installation of Eclipse,
2. Web Application Development:
Requirements:
1. The Supporting OS:
• Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vesta or Windows 7.
• Intel Pentium 4 processor (3 GHz or greater).
• Minimum 1 GB of RAM.
• Minimum 1.5 GB of available hard disk space.
• Minimum 1024 x 768 display resolution, 32-bit color (millions of colors recommended).
2. Software:
• Eclipse for Java EE Developers 3.5.x.
3. BlackBerry Smartphone Simulator (also required at Java Development):
• Any simulators running the following BlackBerry Device Software versions:
I. 4.6.0.212 or later.
II. 4.6.1.132 or later.
III. 4.7.0.80 or later.
• For BlackBerry Widget development, you require the following simulator:
I. BlackBerry Smartphone Simulator that is running BlackBerry Device Software 5.0.0.252 or later.
4. Java Development Kit (JDK):
• JDK 1.6 or later.
5. Development Environment:
• Eclipse IDE for Java Developers 3.5.x, including Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) 2.5.0, Graphic Editing Framework (GEF) 3.5.1, and Web Tools Platform (WTP) 3.1.1.
Installation Steps:
- Firstly make sure you have read the above documentation about the requirements of each installed plug-in.
- Secondly, before you begin: Visit (www.blackberry.com/developers) to download the BlackBerry Web and Java Plug-ins for Eclipse:
1. Installation of BlackBerry Web Application Development Environment:
• Double-click the installation file.
• On the Introduction screen, click Next.
• Accept or decline the license agreement. Click Next.
• To change the installation folder, click Choose and navigate to a new location. Click Next.
• On the Pre-installation Summary screen, click Install.
• When the install completes, to start Eclipse, select the check box then click Done.
2. Installation of BlackBerry Java Application Development Environment:
