Carbide.c++ Developer Edition features

Carbide.c++ Developer Edition provides all the tools required for coding, building, testing, packaging, and deploying a Symbian C++, C, or Qt application for a commercial Symbian OS device. With a UI designer that speeds up the development of application GUIs and supports on-device debugging, Carbide.c++ Developer Edition is ideal for hobbyists, academics, or small commercial developers. To ensure that any developer can get started with Symbian, Carbide.c++ Developer Edition is available for download without charge.

Key features of Carbide.c++ Developer Edition

Eclipse and CDT features

The Carbide.c++ tools are based on Eclipse 3.4 and Eclipse CDT 5.0, providing developers with full access to all the general features of the Eclipse IDE and the C/C++ specific features of the Eclipse CDT tools.

New-project wizard

The new-project wizard gets developers started easily. It allows a new Symbian OS project to be created from any of the following template types for S60 and UIQ code:

• GUI applications.
• Console applications.
• DLLs.
• Static libraries.
• An empty project.
• Polymorphic DLLs.
• Dynamic libraries.
• S60 and UIQ UI applications using Carbide.c++ UI Designer.

Importer

Carbide.c++ allows developers to import their existing projects using the information stored in a project’s bld.inf file.

In addition, developers can import Symbian OS executables so that they can be debugged or to enable debugging of a binary that is not part of a current project.

Public SDK support

Support is provided for the public S60 3rd Edition, S60 5th Edition, and UIQ 3.x SDKs.

Installed SDKs are detected automatically, and key information is imported into Carbide.c++. The IDE uses the information to facilitate programming with integrated API help, code highlighting, and code completion for all available APIs.

Integrated project builder

Developers can build full projects within Carbide.c++ Developer Edition for debugging in an SDK emulator, or for packaging and downloading for installation on a mobile device. The project builder is based on the CDT Managed Build system.

MMP and bld.inf editors

Carbide.c++ features the Symbian Project Navigator, which provides visual editors for *.mmp and bld.inf files. These editors allow developers to view and modify their project definitions, matching the methods used for working from the command line.

Visual UI Designer

The Carbide.c++ UI Designer helps developers create complete application user interfaces quickly. Using a palette of S60 or UIQ UI components, developers create an application’s UI visually while UI Designer creates the necessary implementation code. In addition, a range of non-UI components can be added to an application with UI Designer.

Build target support

The build system supports WINSC for emulator builds.

For device builds, THUMB/ARMI, GCCE, ARMv5, and ARMv5_ABIv2 targets are supported, enabling application binaries to be created for all compatible Symbian OS platform devices.

Carbide.c++ allows developers to switch easily between targets as their projects demand.

Emulator-based and on-device debugging

Carbide.c++ Developer Edition enables application debugging in an SDK emulator and on a production device. On-device debugging is facilitated by Application TRK.

On-device debugging eliminates issues that can arise due to differences in emulator and device behaviour. In addition, it allows developers to debug application behaviour for device features such as Bluetooth technology, TCP/IP, and telephony.

When performing on-device debugging, Carbide.c++ displays the processes and threads for both run- and stop-mode debugging sessions based on the selection in the Debug view. Chunks and library data are displayed for stop mode.

On-device debugging is supported for UIQ 3.x, S60 3rd Edition, and S60 5th Edition devices.

Fully featured debugger

The Carbide.c++ debugger provides a rich set of debugging features designed to help developers find and repair software defects quickly. These include the following:

• Multicomponent projects (consisting, for example, of an *.exe file and a *.dll file) can be debugged together.
• Symbian OS descriptors are automatically identified, and their value is displayed in a programmer-friendly string format.
• Thread windows display information about a suspended process during a debugging session.
• Breakpoints, watchpoints, and eventpoints can be set and removed in source code.
• Watchpoints halt programme execution when a specific location in memory changes value or is accessed.
• Eventpoints can be created to initiate logging, script execution, pause, and similar events.
• Powerful browsing capabilities provide access to an internal table of all modules, global variables, and functions within a given debugging context.
• A memory view offers a fast way to display and modify the contents of target memory, allowing developers to find a value in memory, compare memory regions, and upload and download memory to a file.
• Call stack/thread information, variables, disassembly, and the device console can also be viewed.

Symbian OS v9.x security handling

For devices based on Symbian OS v9.x, the project builder automatically includes application signing as required by platform security. When the application does not require special capabilities, a certificate is automatically generated. Developers can specify the use of other certificates such as Symbian Developer Certificates.

Easy deployment

The build system creates installable *.sis files as part of device builds. If the development PC has connectivity software — such as the Nokia PC Suite — installed, developers can deploy the application to a device for installation by double-clicking the created *.sis file.

Extended search features

Carbide.c++ search now includes a system search option for searching folders outside the workspace. This is in addition to file and C/C++ search options.

Plug-in development support

Developers who wish to add new features to Carbide.c++ can do so by creating Eclipse plug-ins. To support such development, Carbide.c++ provides information on how to set up a development environment targeting Carbide.c++, an example plug-in with source code, and API documentation.

Platform security tools

The Capability Scanner and Epocwind.out Scanner tools perform static and runtime capability checks on Symbian C++ applications. These tools support the S60 platform only.

Command-line integration

Carbide.c++ maintains project information in the same *.mmp and bld.inf files used by the command-line tools, allowing builds to be performed at the command line as well. This enables features such as automated overnight building to be performed on Carbide.c++ projects.

Help for Microsoft Visual Studio and CodeWarrior™ IDE developers

Carbide.c++ includes CodeWarrior™ and Visual Studio key-bindings support, enabling developers familiar with these development environments to easily migrate to Carbide.c++.

Online help

Carbide.c++ Express comes with a full set of online help to guide the user through the use of the tool. In addition, the help files from installed SDKs are integrated into the Carbide.c++ help.

Where can I get more information on the features in Carbide.c++ Developer Edition?

For information on the features of the other editions of Carbide.c++, please see the following pages: Carbide.c++ Professional Edition features and Carbide.c++ OEM Edition features. Alternatively, download and read the Carbide.c++ data sheet.

Rate This