Windows Mobile Development No Longer Free

Jacco de Leeuw writes "Windows Mobile developers have enjoyed free development tools like the eMbedded Visual Tools and that in turn has helped popularize Windows Mobile devices and a number of free or cheap applications. But now the SDK for the upcoming Windows Mobile 5.0 has a number of 'technical (not political) dependencies' on Visual Studio 2005, which starts at $299. Is it time for an open source Windows Mobile toolchain?"

Comments

No

[wowbagger]

Is it time for an open source Windows Mobile toolchain?"

No, it is time to get developers to realize that there are other platforms one can use for a mobile computing platform that are NOT Windows.

Re:No

[wowbagger]

And you, sir are a part of the problem.

This is about mobile computing - i.e. palm-top computers, PDAs, and other almost embedded systems - not your client's Powerbook, or your client's x86 computer.

But Microsoft has brainwashed you into believing that all desktop computing is all computing, and that all computing is desktop computing - the idea that a mobile platform is different than a desktop is suppressed - is an "un-idea".

And before you respond "but porting software from Windows to Windows Embedded is easy" - no, it is not. There are enough differences between Windows Desktop and Windows Embedded that the effort of maintaining one code base between the two is non-trivial - and is about the same as porting your program to Qt or GTK and using that to build both the desktop version and the mobile version.

This is the great triumph that Microsoft has won - it is not merely a question of them being "The Only Choice", but rather that the whole idea of "choice" is suppressed.

$299 is expensive?

[ednopantz]

In a universe where programmers cost at least $50 an hour, there are still people who think a $300 IDE is expensive. A good tool saves you that much in labor costs in the first week of use.

Looks like a false alarm

[abelikoff]

I find the argument flawed for a number of reasons. If we look at the trend, there are actually many more free development tools available from Microsoft compared to the past. In fact, looking specifically at CE development tools: in order to develop for Windows CE some 3-4 years ago one had:

• To acquire a Visual C++ development system, and
• To purchase an add-on for Windows CE development.

Nowadays, one just has to spend 15 minutes downloading eVC++ 4 for free. Same goes for Windows-oriented development. Same for dozens of other SDKs. There are ways to develop for each and every Microsoft platform using free tools from Microsoft.

What is going to happen actually, in my opinion, will be similar to the situation with development tools for .NET framework:

• There will be a freely available SDK with a set of tools allowing free development for Windows Mobile 5.0 platform just like there is a free .NET SDK with a set of compilers and tools allowing developers to create .NET applications.
• VS.NET 2005 will be positioned for Windows Mobile 5.0 development in the exactly same manner VS is positioned for Windows and .NET development. That is, it will not be the only tool available for such development but the sheer convenience, integration and automation will appeal to a broad segment of ISVs compelling them to purchase it instead of going with free tools.

Now on a personal note. I think, I am willing to pay $299 if this would give me a single tool that would provide coverage for all Pocket PC and Windows Mobile target platforms without the sheer madness of having to install eVC++ 3, eVC++ 4, VS 6, and VS.NET 2003 (let alone a half dozen of platform SDKs). This alone is well worth $299. ;-)

Hobbyist Software?

[Mensa Babe]

Well, that's it then. Since my hobbist software development budget is approximately zero - I'm going to have to give up on Windows Mobile development. [emphasis added]

As the majority of hobbyists must be aware, most of you steal your software. Hardware must be paid for, but software is something to share. Who cares if the people who worked on it get paid? Is this fair? ... One thing you do do is prevent good software from being written. Who can afford to do professional work for nothing? What hobbyist can put 3-man years into programming, finding all bugs, documenting his product and distribute for free? The fact is, no one besides us has invested a lot of money in hobby software. We have written 6800 BASIC, and are writing 8080 APL and 6800 APL, but there is very little incentive to make this software available to hobbyists. Most directly, the thing you do is theft. Bill Gates, An Open Letter to Hobbyists, February 3, 1976.

It has been thirty and you still can't realize that you are non grata? Your patience is unbelievable but why won't you just get over it and go somewhere else where people actually want you? Crazy idea, isn't it?