¤¤¤ ¤¤¤ 1. Setting up the Tools ¤¤¤ ¤¤¤

The first step to start developing Symbian applications is to download the SDK to your phone and a C++ compiler and IDE.

¤¤¤ Download SDK ¤¤¤

The Symbian operating system is not a single operating system, but it exists in a number of versions and variants. There exist the Symbian OS 6, 7, 8 and 9. Each operating system exists in different profiles.

UIQ: There is the UIQ variant used by Sony Ericsson.
Series60: There is the Series 60 developed by Nokia and licensed by other manufactures.
Series80 and Series90: These two variants are also developed by Nokia but less common.

For example: A Nokia 6680 runs the Operating System Symbian 8.0a and use the variant Series 60 2nd Edition, Feature Pack 2 on top of it.

In this tutorial we will develop for this platform. Therefore we are going to download the Series 60 2nd Edition SDK for Symbian OS supporting FP 2 for CodeWarrior SDK from Forum Nokia. When downloading the SDK you also have to download a special SDK depending on the compiler or IDE you plan to use. In this tutorial we will use CodeWarrior and therefore we download this version.

1. Now download the SDK:
Series 60 2nd Edition SDK for Symbian OS supporting FP 2 for CodeWarrior
1. REMEMBER TO DOWNLOAD FP2 FOR CODEWARRIOR. There exist a FP3, but that is only a Beta and we will not use it in this tutorial!
2. When asked what to install choose custom and be sure that everything is selected.
3. At a point in the installation process a command prompt will ask you what network card to use. Pick your standard Wireless card.

If you want to use another SDK please find the right SDK on Forum Nokia or on a UIQ page.

¤¤¤ Perl ¤¤¤

The SDK uses Perl to run the different compilation and installation scripts. If you have not installed Perl on your computer please go ahead and down it.

2. Now download Perl:
Active Perl

¤¤¤ C++ compilers and IDEs for Symbian ¤¤¤

There exists a number of IDEs and compilers for Symbian. Here is a list of some of them:

Borland Mobile Studio: Have not work with this tool for a while (more info)

Microsoft Visual Studio .NET: Visual Studio does not directly support Symbian, but you can download Nokia Developer's Suite that adds Symbian functionality to your Visual Studio. Visual Studio is a great developing environment, but still lacks some functionality when developing Symbian Application e.g. jumping to the code line where you made an error etc.

Metrowerks CodeWarrior: This is a IDE that has a version that is specifically target Symbian. It is not as great an environment to develop in as Visual Studio, but it is more closely integrated with Symbian and you can download a 90 days trial version.

For this tutorial:
3. Now download CodeWarrior:
Metrowerks CodeWarrior 2.8

4. After installing the above mentioned tools - restart your computer

When you have downloaded a SDK, Perl and a IDE go to step two: Understading Hello World >>