Symbian C++

Create powerful applications for the world’s most popular smartphone platform

Symbian provides a secure, reliable operating system for smartphones and is created in Symbian C++.

Because Symbian C++ is used to build the operating system, it enables you to achieve a high level of integration with the features of Symbian devices — such as manipulating contacts, accessing location information, gaining network access, creating SIP sessions, working with multimedia and 3D graphics, and much more. Applications can deliver high performance because Symbian C++ has been specifically designed for mobile devices with low power consumption characteristics and relatively small memory footprints.

If you have a demanding mobile application requirement, Symbian C++ is the language that will enable you to exceed your users’ expectations.

Key resources:

• Documentation
• Tools and SDKs
• Code Examples
• eLearning
• Discussion Board
• Developer Wiki and Knowledge Base

The basics

Symbian C++ has been designed to run efficiently on devices with relatively limited memory and power resources. Several elements of Symbian C++ therefore differ from desktop C/C++ because of these requirements. Specific examples include a leaving mechanism that protects applications against a lack of requested resources and special handling of data through descriptors. While these mechanisms may be unfamiliar at first, once mastered they enable the coding of robust and efficient applications.

Beyond the programming idioms unique to Symbian C++, you will also need to become familiar with the many Symbian and S60 APIs. These APIs offer a comprehensive range of mobile optimised features that can be used to create a wide variety of applications; from games requiring 3D graphics and rich sound to enterprise application that need secure and reliable data connectivity.

Once mastered, that which can be achieved using Symbian C++ is limited only by your imagination and innovation.

You may also wish to gain familiarity with Qt, which will be powering the UI on future Symbian devices. Mixing Qt with Symbian C++ is straightforward. Using Qt simplifies UI development, while at the same time offering richer UI possibilities with features such as transparency and animation. Qt also provides cross platform APIs for accessing key device data.

For more information on Qt, visit the Qt technology page »

Tools

The starting point for Symbian C++ development is an S60 SDK. An S60 SDK includes all the public APIs, comprehensive documentation, development tools, and a device emulator. Each version of Symbian has its own SDK and some devices have their own SDKs also.

You then have several options for coding:

• Carbide.c++ is an IDE specifically designed for creating Symbian applications in C++. Based on Eclipse and the C/C++ development tools from the Eclipse CDT Project, Carbide.c++ provides tools to support Symbian C++ coding, building applications for the SDK emulators, and performing on-device debugging among others.
• Qt Creator is a tool designed to create cross-platform applications for Symbian and the Maemo platform as well as a number of other mobile and desktop environments efficiently. You can use Qt Creator to create applications that make use of Symbian APIs.
• The command line. Each SDK provides a comprehensive set of tools for undertaking development at the command line.

Platform Security and application signing

Symbian provides the industry’s most comprehensive security model, with access to certain APIs requiring applications to be signed and all applications having a secure location in which to store sensitive data. This technology provides users, operators, and enterprises with certainty regarding the way in which applications update user and device data.

For more information on Platform Services, visit the Symbian OS Platform Security page »

Native Symbian applications are packaged into a Symbian Installation System (SIS) file for installation on a device. All SIS files must be signed before a device will permit installation. Fortunately signing applications is easy. You can self sign applications that don’t access sensitive device data or capabilities. Self signed applications can also ask the user to grant them access to data such as contacts and calendar. To access sensitive data (or where you wish to eliminate the request for users to grant access during installation) applications need to be Symbian Signed. For most applications Express Signing is the best solution, it is quick and inexpensive.

For more information on Symbian Signed, visit the Testing and signing page »

Getting to market

The Ovi store is the most effective channel through which to distribute your applications worldwide to tens of millions of Symbian devices from Nokia.

For more information, visit the publish to Ovi Store page »