Access Now Widely Distributing ALP Developer Tools

Access Co. Ltd. has made the tools developers need to create applications for the Access Linux Platform (ALP) easily available. Previously, the SDK and other tools were available only to select developers.

Getting developers on board with ALP is an important step for Access, if it's going to be successful with its Linux-based replacement for the Palm OS.

Access' suite of applications is an integrated development environment (IDE) that includes open-source tools such as Eclipse and Glade. It has all the necessary components, tools, samples, and documentation to develop, run, test and debug native applications for mobile devices based on ALP.

Palm OS Compatibility Layer

While the ability to develop native ALP applications is important, equally critical is ALP's ability to run software written for the current version of the Palm OS.

This is why Access has released the Garnet VM Compatibility Kit, a stand-alone kit that lets developers to test their Palm OS-based applications' compatibility with ALP. The Garnet VM provides the ability to run existing Palm OS Garnet applications on ALP devices.

"By making the Access Linux Platform Development Suite and Access Garnet VM Compatibility Kit freely available, we begin building and growing a robust mobile Linux application ecosystem benefiting developers, operators, and handset manufacturers while providing end users a choice of market-ready applications," said Larry Berkin, senior director developer ecosystem & technology acquisition, Access Systems Americas, Inc.

New Portal

These development tools are available free of charge to registered members of the Access Developer Network. Previously registered Garnet developers and new ones can register and build a profile on this company's new web site: accessdevnet.com. 

Naturally, this site, the newly created Access Developer Network Portal, has been designed to stimulate development of mobile applications for ALP. In addition to technical tools and documentation, ADN provides new social networking features to facilitate developer community interaction via discussion forums and feedback mechanisms that include a bug tracking and feature request system.

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