Provide Open Source Core Tools for App Developers

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I'm not sure about tools for customised S60 ROM images, but application developers don't need those.  Once you can build the binaries and resource files used in the platform, I beleive the only extras that application developers should need are for packaging and signing SIS files.  There may be some significant work to be done there from what I've seen so far... :(

EDIT: Actually it might even make sense to switch to the versions distributed by Martin Storsjo as the official ones! http://www.martin.st/symbian/

 

But why assume it would only be app-developers that are interested? What about people working on system-level software?

The idea is called "Provide Open Source Core Tools for App Developers by the end of 2009".

On a more technical level, the QEMU support is not really ideal (nor designed for) all system level development and it's currently not possible to build the platform with GCCE.

So, the need for all the ROM creation tools to work across multiple platforms is entirely valid, but probably not doable on this timescale and not the number 1 priority.  I do still think it's important and should be resolved a.s.a.p., but it relies on other deliverables too.

 

Good question.  It would be natural to extend this idea to system-level software developers.  

Some of the reasons to start with app developers:

• It is a smaller problem.  There are not quite as many expected use cases and tools.
• The app developer community is potentially much bigger and a higher expectation for open tools
• Symbian Foundation resourcing might be enough to make substantial progress on the app developer solution, but is unlikely to scale to handle system development as well.
• I'd be happy to extend the charter to system-level software if community members would like to contribute in that area
• Note, that there does exist some progress on the system-level side.  For example, there is a project to get all of the system software to compile with gcc.

> The idea is called "Provide Open Source Core Tools for App Developers by the end of 2009".

Oops. Point taken. I should have read constraints in the original posting more carefully.

However, as Paul points out, the same question then applies to the original idea posting: why is it for app-developers only? So I'm happy he might like to extend the idea to provide an open-source toolset for system-software developers too.

For example, university researchers are interested in doing system-level work with Symbian OS, now that we are opening the system. But their interest wanes if they have to buy an expensive toolset. ... And they can also become valuable contributors to improving the open-source toolset.

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 Wow! Thanks for the great news, Paul! Thanks Symbian!

I've been using gnupoc with eclipse IDE on Ubuntu for a long time - although it works well, I'm sure many of us using gnupoc are waiting for real Symbian SDK and IDE support on GNU/Linux - especially after getting to learn about the beta Qt for S60 and its Symbian integration in Qt Creator. It's really great to learn about Qt and what qt-based open-source projects/communities created, and I'm sure many Qt developers are happy to hear this news as well!

The binaries have now been delivered. We want to improve the documentation before roll-out.  Expect to hear about availablility within the next few weeks. 

Note that this will just be gcc, gdb, and QEMU. There will still need to be more work around them to produce a full SDK.

How is the progress on this? you mentioned that "the binaries" have been delivered, is there at least any form of documentation released that describes the full scope of the SDK that you are planning to release? Like are we talking a supported toolchain like Anderson Lizardo's packages ( lizardo.wordpress.com ) or will we have QEmu images or QtCreator integration? 

Any info would be much appreciated. 

The scope of the SF project is really just the three components - gcc, gdb, and QEMU.  An SDK would be a subsequent step.  The intent is that by providing a core compiler, debugger and simulator that others in the community -- like QEMU package owners, Anderson Lizardo, the Qt Creator team, or you -- can provide and/or contribute more complete and robust cross-platform development kits.

Hello Paul,

 

It's great to hear that we can get our hands on the open-source symbian gcc, gdb, qemu - and hopefully use them with our symbian development setup - I think many of us are already using gnupoc, it would be great to use official tools and integrate more seamlessly.

When/where can we have access to them? Which sdks can they be used with? Are they going to be bundled in new sdks?

Thank you for clarifying that for me, I now understand the goal of your project. Now the next question is: when are we going to see these binaries? I understand there is a release process that you would like to go through and that you would also like to have more documentation before a formal release but is there any chance of a "beta" release so that people like myself could work on packaging the new toolchain with a SDK ( such as Qt Libs/Creator ) and possibly have a similar release time? 

Thanks

-A 

Hi Kasidit,

I'm hopeful that the tools will become available in the next week or two.  There are a few uncertainties that I can't be totally certain.

The SDK integration story is still open.

Andrew,

It would be possible (and appreciated!) to get you an early release for the purpose of packaging the tools into an SDK.  We should have a verbal discussion and then I could get you set up.  Contact me at paulb at symbian.org.

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Great to see: blog.symbian.org/2010/04/21/stepping-toward-symbian-open-source-tools-on-linux-and-mac/ and

 

labs.trolltech.com/blogs/2010/04/21/symbian-development-using-linux/ - really eager to get started!

 

Thanks Symbian!

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