The S60 platform provides a developer platform for mobile devices. The platform is implemented in a range of devices and provides application developers with a set of libraries, applications, and technologies. The S60 platform runs on the underlying Symbian OS. For more information on the relationship between the S60 platform and the Symbian OS, see "S60 platform evolution".
The following introduction to mobile application development with the C++ programming language for the S60 platform allows you to build, install, and view your first application with the Command Line Interface (CLI).
Although you do not need prior information about the S60 platform or Symbian OS, you should have some have some knowledge about:
C++ programming
basic principles of object-oriented design
For more information on S60 projects, see "S60 project contents".
To develop your first application for the S60 platform you need:
computer running Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 or later, PERL, and a Java Run-Time Environment (JRE)
The version of Microsoft Windows required depends on the S60 Platform SDK for Symbian OS, for C++ you use.
Check the Installation Guide provided with your S60 C++ SDK for the precise software requirements. SDK Installation Guides are available in the SDK download.
Note: ActivePerl 5.6.1.x is required in order to successfully install the SDK.
S60 Platform SDK for Symbian OS, for C++ (S60 C++ SDK)
The S60 C++ SDKs allow you to develop and test applications written in C++ for S60 mobile devices. For this purpose, the SDK provides a range of tools, APIs, libraries, documentation, examples, and a free GNU C Compiler Embedded (GCCE) compiler to build applications for mobile devices. You can view and test applications on an emulator provided with the SDKs.
SDKs are available for download from Forum Nokia.
The example in these instructions uses S60 C++ 3rd Edition SDK, Feature Pack 1.
Carbide.c++ Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
To build an S60 application for the SDK emulator, you need a WINSCW compiler. This compiler is not included in the SDK download, but is available with Carbide.c++ products.
Carbide.c++ Express is a free tool for non-commercial application development and is used in this example.
mobile device based on the platform version that matches your development SDK
Different S60 mobile devices run different versions of the S60 platform. Applications developed with an SDK release should only be installed on mobile devices that run the platform version that corresponds to the SDK.
For example, if you are developing an S60 application with the 3rd Edition SDK, Feature Pack 1, you need to install that application on a mobile device that runs the S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 1 platform. For compatibility between platform releases and target devices, see the Device Specifications on Forum Nokia.
connection between your PC and your mobile device.
Depending upon the mobile device and PC, USB and Bluetooth connections are commonly used.
Check the documentation of your device for information on how to make these connections. One typical method is to use the version of Nokia PC Suite that is compatible with your phone.
For more information on the tools listed above, see "Environment and tools".
The S60 application that you will build, install, and view is the HelloWorldBasic example
provided with the 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 1 SDK. The example is in the C:<installation_directory>\S60Ex\HelloWorldBasic folder.
If you install the SDK to the default location, the location is C:\Symbian\9.2\S60_3rd_FP1\S60Ex\HelloWorldBasic.