Developers Go Mobile: Opie Releases Free SDK

An anonymous reader writes "The Open Palmtop Integrated Environment (Opie) project to develop a free graphical application environment for Linux handhelds and webpads has released a software development kit (SDK) based on the KDevelop3 open source IDE. The Opie SDK provides tools for developing open, professional-class applications for Linux based mobile and embedded devices running under the Opie platform, according to Opie hacker Oliver 'Groucho' Fels. In case you're wondering, Opie is a fork of Trolltech's Qtopia, a palmtop application stack popularized by Sharp's Zaurus line and other PDAs and handhelds. Opie features a sophisticated personal information (PIM) framework as well as several other productivity apps, extended multimedia capabilities and document model, networking and communication tools, and support for more than a dozen languages."

Comments

Trolltech

[Anonymous Coward]

Trolltech is 6% owned by the Canopy Group. I refuse to use software that Trolltech has put its hands to.

Six percent is not a small share. Anyone who argues 6% is nothing is just making convenient excuses.

Re:Trolltech

[BigHungryJoe]

I don't think the parent is flamebait.

Ralph Yarro, CEO of the Canopy Group, also sits on Trolltech's Board of Directors and is a part owner of Trolltech.

There is no denying the relationship between SCO and TrollTech.

If you're going to use QT I hope you have indemnification to protect yourself from SCO.

Licencing

[Space cowboy]

It's not immediately apparent from their website, so is Opie subject to the provisions of the QPL, if it's derived from Trolltech ?

In other words, can you write commercial s/w with it ? I personally have no real desire to :-) But I think it may have an impact on the uptake...

Simon.

Opie + Zaurus SL-C7x0?

[Kent Recal]

Is anyone using Opie on the Sharp Zaurus SL-C7x0?

I'm tempted to buy such a device and wonder what software options I may have (other than the default). Does Opie on Zaurus support all features of the default software (as in network connection, ext. hardware support, sync'ing etc.)?
Is it fit for daily work or should it be considered "experimental"?

I expect the PIM functionality of Opie to be a bit more mature than the "translated from japanese" apps that come pre-installed with the zaurus.

Some comments from a Zaurus owner who has tried both (anybody out there?) would be nice. Google didn't find me a review covering this subject so I'm giving it a blind shot here...

Use Y instead!

[1337 Apple Zealot]

Why use Opie when Y is here! Y is small, fast and free! The ideal replacemnt for X and Opie. 0.2 has just been released and is an exciting system, complete with hardware acceleration, alpha blended widgets and more!

Get Y!

PDA/Phone Programming

[Aurix]

I've got a Kyocera 7135 (Palm OS/Phone), and I've always been curious if it's possible to write a Palm application to control the phone?

Ie, I'd like the program to hang up after calls hit a certain length during certain times... (Save on phone bills)... Anyone got any ideas?

*soooo* many ways to do this in linux now ...

[torpor]

... put together a 'small and light GUI/SDK', I mean. For small and light computing.

Hold on, its going to get better. SDL+Paragui/gtkfb+fb/&etc...

The one thing that's missing from these PDAs...

[bc90021]

...is phone call ability. I've owned several Zaureses (Zaurii? ;) ) and have run Opie on them, and it is extremely cool. However, since I've always had to carry a PDA *and* a phone, I've always ended up selling the PDA since it's just extra weight and the phone defaults to the place to store contacts since I can voice dial with it.

As soon as there's a Zaurus that's also a phone and has phone software for it from Opie, I'll be switching permanently!