Palm Programming

Heres a list of useful resources for programming for the Palm.

• OnboardC is a complete C programming environment for your Palm. The source editor, resource editor and compiler all run on your Palm so you can develop on the move.
• Handheld Basic++ (HB++) from Peter Holmes Consulting is a complete and very well designed visual basic development environment.
• The Palm Programmers Cookbook describes the basics of programming for Palm and contains examples for creating various user interface objects like forms, buttons, menus, and tables.
• The Palm Alternatives to C page describes options for different languages that can be used for programming the Palm. It also benchmarks the resulting code. OnboardC is in a respectable 5th place beind CodeWarrior, HB++, PP and High Speed Pascal.
• The Palm OS Development FAQ Wiki is still a bit sparse but with help it could turn into a very useful repository of development information.
• The Palm OS API Reference describes in detail every function built into the Palm.

Mathlib
To use trigonometry functions like sqrt(), sin(0 and cos() in your C programs you will need a library called Mathlib. Use the following steps to use it with OnboardC

• Download the Mathlib.src.zip file.
• Uncompress the file and take a look at the documentation.
• Install MathLib.prc on your handheld.
• You’ll also need to get the source files MathLib.c and MathLib.h on to you Palm. Use a DOC file converter such as DocReader or PigyDoc to create a PRC file for each of the source files and install these on you Palm.
• Delete the line #include <PalmOS.h> from the top of MathLib.c
• Add #include "MathLib.h" to the start of your application source file.
• Add the following code to your startApp() function
  static void startApp(){
Err error;
error=SysLibFind(MathLibName,&MathLibRef);
if (error) error=SysLibLoad(LibType,MathLibCreator,&MathLibRef);
if (error) FrmCustomAlert(DebugAlert,"Can't find MathLib.","","");
error=MathLibOpen(MathLibRef,MathLibVersion);
if (error) FrmCustomAlert(DebugAlert,"Can't open MathLib.","","");
return;
} 
• Add the following to your stopApp() function
  static void stopApp() {
Err error;
UInt16 usecount;
error=MathLibClose(MathLibRef,&usecount);
if (error) FrmCustomAlert(DebugAlert,"Can't close MathLib.","","");
if (usecount==0) SysLibRemove(MathLibRef);
return;
}  


Palm Programming Forums

• 1src has a lot of useful forums related to programming on various handheld devices including the Clie
• PalmOpenSource may also have some useful information