Palm OS Developers Get Better Tools

The PalmSource developer seminar started today and several announcements have been made aimed at making the process of writing Palm OS software easier. The Fast ARM Solutions Toolkit has been created to make developing ARMlets easier and Metrowerks said there would be a new version of CodeWarrior in a few weeks. In addition, PalmSource announced the Business Solutions Program, which will help developers bring their applications to the attention of large companies.

Fast ARM Solutions Toolkit

The ability to create ARMlets was added to Palm OS 5 late in its development process. An ARMlet is a small snippet of ARM-native code added to a Palm OS program. ARMlets run significantly faster than than typical program code, which has to run through an emulator, so these are typically used for very processor-intensive tasks, like decoding JPEG images. However, the process of creating ARMlets quickly became notorious for its difficulty. To help ease the process, PalmSource has created the Fast ARM Solutions Toolkit (FAST).

FAST will allow developers to expand the range and quality of applications they create. Multimedia, 3D games, security, voice over IP, scientific applications, and digital signal processing are just a few examples of the types of applications that will benefit substantially from this improvement.

David Nagel, president and CEO of PalmSource, said, "FAST keeps the promise of compatibility for future Palm OS systems and provides developers with a much improved development environment for optimizing their applications."

FAST will be distributed free of charge via PalmSource's Developer Support website within approximately 60 days.

CodeWarrior Development Studio for Palm OS, Version 9.2

Metrowerks today announced the newest version of CodeWarrior. This is designed to aid Palm OS software developers in creating higher performance wireless, multimedia and enterprise-grade applications for devices based on ARM technology. CodeWarrior 9.2 is also designed to give comprehensive support to PalmSource's FAST and to help provide compatibility with Palm OS 5 and future generations of the operating system.

CodeWarrior 9.2, is expected to be available to existing customers as a Web update at the end this month. Developers new to CodeWarrior can purchase the tools for $400. /p>

Business Solutions Program

PalmSource also introduced the Palm OS Business Solutions Program to help developers to strengthen their position in the enterprise market by aligning with the Palm platform. The program will allow developers specifically targeting enterprises to submit their applications to a series of tests that, once passed, will validate the application as "enterprise-ready." By connecting third-party software vendors with Palm OS licensees, Systems Integrators, and other strategic partners, this program aims to streamline developers' time-to-market and open new channels for revenue opportunities and increased product awareness.