Eclipse IDE support for C/C++ and Python application development

The Maemo Eclipse Integration project has reached its final 1.0 release, offering a set of tools to ease application development using the Eclipse IDE. The newest use case is Python development on a MS Windows PC host using the Pluthon plugin for Eclipse, not requiring the Maemo SDK installation at all.

A set of Maemo PC Connectivity tools are provided allowing starting applications on SDK to run them on the Nokia Internet Tablets. The ESBox plugin for Eclipse integrates the Maemo SDK to the Eclipse development environment, allowing all the development inside the IDE.

In addition to the C programming language supported by the Maemo SDK, C++ and Python support for application development can be also installed.
 
 

Release Information

Project:    Maemo Eclipse Integration 1.0
Version:    1.0 (Final)
Baseline:   Maemo 4.0.x Chinook and 4.1 Diablo SDKs
Date:       2008-07-01
 
Maemo Eclipse Integration includes the following parts:

1.    Eclipse IDE for C/C++ Developers
2.    Maemo PC Connectivity
3.    Maemo ESBox plugin for Eclipse version 
4.    Maemo Pluthon plugin for Eclipse version 
5.    Maemo C++ and Python programming language support

 
 

1. Eclipse IDE for C/C++ Developers

Maemo Eclipse integration requires Eclipse 3.3.x and CDT 4.0.x versions. Instructions to install or update Eclipse IDE on the host PC can be found from the Eclipse IDE for C/C++ Developers pages at eclipse.org.
 
Notice that if only Maemo Pluthon plugin for Eclipse is used (it does not require Scratchbox and Maemo SDK installation on host PC) then also Windows platform can be used. This release of Maemo Pluthon plugin has only beta level support for Windows. 
 
 

2. Maemo PC Connectivity

Maemo PC connectivity packages are tools and other components developer needs to install into his Internet Tablet to enable connectivity between developer PC and Internet Tablet. This release of Maemo PC connectivity includes very basics e.g. mainly components needed for setting up USB networking with ssh, sshfs and NFS support for mounting disks between PC and Tablet and Scratchbox Remote Shell to support starting applications on SDK to run them on Internet Tablet.
 
Maemo PC Connectivity components can be installed from Maemo extras repository e.g. install Maemo-pc-connectivity package to the Internet Tablet. Detailed instructions how to install and configure Maemo PC Connectivity can be found from http://maemo.org/development/documentation/pc_connectivity/.
 
Main features: 

• Openssh used as basic connectivity framework.
• sshfs and NFS support for mounts between host PC and Tablet.
• sbrsh (Scratchbox Remote Shell) support to start applications on SDK to run on Internet Tablet.
• Easy installation using Application Manager or command line tools in Internet Tablet from Maemo extras repository.
• Support for USB networking (wlan and Bluetooth not tested).
• Configuration tool for Internet Tablet for easy PC-Tablet connectivity configuration.

 
 

3. Maemo ESBox plugin for Eclipse

Maemo ESBox plugin for Eclipse IDE integrates Maemo SDK Scratchbox based development environment to the Eclipse development environment. ESBox plugin supports application development using C, C++ or Python programming language. Developers are able to do all their development work inside Eclipse, from starting the project using template to packaging final application into Maemo  installation package. 
 
Maemo ESBox plugin can be installed from http://esbox.garage.maemo.org/ using standard Eclipse plugin installation.
 
Main features:

• Easy PC-Tablet connectivity with Maemo PC Connectivity.
• C, C++ and Python programming language support.
• Templates for the most common type of Maemo applications.
• Build application with x86 target.
• Launch and test application on x86 target.
• Debug application on x86 target.
• Search for memory leaks using Valgrind on x86 target.
• Cross-compile application with ARMEL target.
• Debug application on the Internet Tablet using GDB or GDB Server.
• Performance test on Internet Tablets using OProfile.
• Maemo installation package creation wizard.

 
 

4. Maemo Pluthon plugin for Eclipse

Maemo Pluthon plugin for Eclipse IDE integrates Eclipse IDE development environment directly to the Internet Tablet so that Maemo Python developers do not need to use Maemo SDK and Scratchbox as development environment. Maemo Pluthon plugin fully supports application development process with Python where developer develops and tests his Python application directly with Internet Tablet. 
 
Maemo Pluthon plugin can be installed from http://pluthon.garage.maemo.org/ using standard Eclipse plugin installation.
 
Main features

• Easy PC-Tablet connectivity with Maemo PC Connectivity.
• Python programming language support.
• Templates for the most common type of Maemo applications.
• Develop application directly on the Internet Tablet.
• Debug application on the Internet Tablet using pyDev.

 
 

5. Maemo C++ and Python programming language support

By default, the Maemo development environment supports the C programming language but you may add support for other programming languages. Instructions how to install Maemo support for C++ and Python application development can be found from http://maemo.org/development/documentation/programming_languages/.
 
The Maemo development environment defines helpful meta packages that install all the components and tools for C++ and Python development for the for Maemo SDK and Internet Tablet.
 
Feedback can be sent to eclipse-integration AT maemo.org