Developing Application for Mobile Devices

Symbian Developer Network published the following two useful papers:

1. Multi-Language Programming – Part I overview

http://developer.symbian.com/main/downloads/papers/Multi_Language_Programming_Part1_Overview.pdf

This paper covers the pro and con of C++, Java ME, Flash Lite,  Python, Web runtime (widgets) and .NET compact framework. 

It also lists the pro & con, supporting tools and packaging for development with 2 languages – Java & Flash, C++ & Flash, C++ & Widgets and Java & C++.

2. Multi-Language Programming – Part 2 extending Flash Lite with Java ME or Symbian C++

http://developer.symbian.com/main/downloads/papers/MLP_Paper+2_v1.0.pdf

This paper illustrated two examples of combining two programming languages for mobile application development:

1) FlashLite for UI and interface with Java ME (using Jarpa); and

2) FlashLite for UI and interface with C++ (using KuneriLite).  

Jarpa facilitates the launching of application and the communication between two runtimes to enable access to additional functionality. 

Kunerilite is a Rapid Application Development toolkit to allow flash Lite in accessing native Symbian APIs such as accelerometer, camera, bluetooth, GPS, file system and etc.

These two papers are worth reading to have an overview of the strengths and limitations of each of the programming languages and then based on the specification of our project, to make decision on which one or two languages to use.