Developing for the OmniGoQ: How do I develop for the OmniGo?
A: You can develop software for the OmniGo by using the OmniGo SDK, IZL, or by creating applications that run in DOS mode. There's also a Geoworks application called Bindery, which lets you develop electronic books (Content). Bindery is not really a programming environment, for there is no programming involved.Q: What is the OmniGo SDK?
A: The OmniGo SDK (US $100) is a collection of tools and documentation for creating native OmniGo GEOS applications. OmniGo applications are usually written in C with a special preprocessor called GOC (GEOS Object C). GOC adds syntax to C to access the object-oriented features of GEOS. You must have Borland C versions 3.1 to 4.51 in order to compile GEOS applications. For debugging purposes, a second computer connected via a serial cable is required, as well as an OmniGo for testing.The older Geoworks Ensemble SDK can also be used to develop GEOS applications for the OmniGo; similarly, the OmniGo SDK can be used for the creation of Ensemble applications. Geoworks also sells a software development kit for the new Nokia 9000 Communicator that runs in Windows NT and removes the necessity of using a second computer in order to debug. Such an SDK can be used to write GEOS applications for the OmniGo. Geoworks has information on all their GEOS SDK's on their Developer Relations page. Visit Geoworks' Developer Relations page at http://www.geoworks.com/devrelQ: What is IZL?
A: IZL (US $56) stands for Integrated Zoomer Language and was originally developed for the Zoomer PDA's by John Feras. It is a small, BASIC-like interpreted scripting language that allows easy creation of OmniGo applications. Each IZL program is compiled into a format which can then be executed by the IZL interpreter. The interpreter is released as shareware and can be downloaded from this site's Software page or from Max Mansour's archive.John Feras has been concentrating his efforts on CASL (Compact Application Solution Language), a development environment for the PalmPilot similar to IZL, and is no longer officially supporting IZL. A port of CASL to the OmniGo is planned. Visit CASLsoft's website at http://www.caslsoft.comQ: What is Bindery?
A: Bindery (US $29) is an application from Geoworks that lets you develop electronic books, or Content, that can then be read using Book Reader (regardless of platform). Here's an excerpt from Geoworks' Bindery page: Geoworks Bindery Features: - Format documents with full-featured word processor and drawing program. No programming is required to produce electronic books quickly and easily.
- Structure documents using hyperlinking, graphical hot spots, and rich formatting. These features enable books to have rich display and customized content.
- View features are fully controllable. The author controls the reader's interaction with the content by tailoring the viewer features to the content. The document can be easily navigated, making information more accessible to the reader.
It should be noted that Bindery is not a Windows application but a stripped-down desktop version of GEOS. So, theoretically you can save some money by getting Bindery for under $30 and installing only the software that you need (it already includes GeoManager, GeoDraw, Scrapbook, Screen Dumper, and Book Reader; and Bindery is a powerful DTP-capable word processor in its own right).
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