It's not fair, I wanna develop too
 

Hi!

I am not a developer, but would like to dabble. I just would like to know where would be a good start to learn specifically to develop for maemo5 with the n900 in mind?

The reason is I just want to make a non-smoker cigarette app. When all the smokers go for a break, I want to have a cigarette too, for an excuse to take a break. Just a simple app, press the button and the cigarette goes down.

I am Adobe Certified Associate for CS3 and CS4, basic-mid flash skills, and will hopefully pass my A+ this month. So I feel that I have a decent base to work on.

Thanks for any advice!

PS. The N900 rocks only because of developers like you!

Re: It's not fair, I wanna develop too
 

If you plan to code in C++, start by downloading the Nokia QT SDK here and reading through the wiki here.
If you want to go the Python route, go here.

Re: It's not fair, I wanna develop too
 

I would recommend the Python route. You'll get more done in less time and PyQT is great. You will get compatibility with Symbian^3, Meego, MS Windows and Desktop Linuxes without recompiling.

Re: It's not fair, I wanna develop too
 

+1 on zimon's advice. Except maybe for graphics or CPU-intensive apps, there is no reason nowadays to suffer through C++ just to get stuff done.

(Notice I didn't say "simple stuff": Python + Qt allows for some pretty powerful apps)

Re: It's not fair, I wanna develop too
 

As a webbie, you might also be interested in QtWRT. It is still in the experimental stage (it is in the dev repositories), but it will let you write in HTML/CSS/Javascript and easily package it into an installable app. Not as powerful as C, C++, or Python, but a much faster route to the frisson of seeing your app up and running on your device.

Otherwise, I would recommend the Python - Qt route.

Re: It's not fair, I wanna develop too
 

Wow it would be super cool if I could use HTML/CSS/JS as a programming language. I definately will be looking into QtWRT!

Re: It's not fair, I wanna develop too
 

Thank you for these leads! I think I will look into the python route because of zimon's comment. Also will look into qtwrt. I thought that C++ wasn't all that hard when I had to read about it and do basic activities with visual studio in a chapter out of my book at school.

Thanks!

Re: It's not fair, I wanna develop too
 

I have Easy Debian installed on my n900.

I removed openoffice from and installed Qtdesigner instead and it works with the current version of the qt bindings too.

Re: It's not fair, I wanna develop too
 

Thank you once again uvatbc! I have been reading these posts you gave links to, and this is exactly what I have been looking for. THANK YOU!!!!:)

Re: It's not fair, I wanna develop too
 

Glad to help. I expect 50 new apps from you by the end of the month!
Just kidding. No I'm not. Yes I am. You'll never know which!