Palm Developer Network Blog

Chapters Four and Five of Developing Applications in JavaScript using the Palm Mojo™ Framework now available

13 Comments

1. Well I've got my mac and the iphone SDK. Sorry I can't wait any longer. I'll be back though to check out how it's going, but it's iPhone for the next six months for me.

   Comment by luke — May 5, 2009 @ 9:06 am

2. @luke: Well I've got my mac and the iphone SDK. Sorry I can't wait any longer. I'll be back though to check out how it's going, but it's iPhone for the next six months for me.

   I sent a request to PDN (via e-mail) late last week requesting an update on the early access program, but I haven't heard anything back. I'll admit to checking out the iPhone SDKs, having picked up an iPod Touch. That said, the the 'Touch generally encourages me to hold out for the Prē — the lack of a real keyboard is terribly frustrating. The lack of multitasking is even more-so. The level of access you get to the device, however, is very nice, which makes me wonder even more about what's in the Mojo SDK.

   Then again, being locked into a Sprint contract for a few more months is also an incentive to stick with the vaporous Prē.

   -Scott

   Comment by Scott — May 5, 2009 @ 3:09 pm

3. Yep..after opening the door to “early access” it would have been wise to have auto-replies about application status. Otherwise, it gives the “rug yanked out from under your feet at the welcome door” feeling.

   Comment by Jim — May 6, 2009 @ 6:44 pm

4. I understand your feelings, but an auto-reply doesn't actually help. We're getting people into the program as fast as we can, but we have many, many more than we can handle right now. We're working on this, and I spent the morning letting more people into the program.

   An application's status is pretty simple: if you were accepted into the program, you know, because I sent you email.

   A few (VERY few) applications were rejected — spammers and one or two with blatantly incorrect info in them (as in, no, I don't believe the Queen of England wants to program the Pre).

   Everyone else is in the “still pending” pile. So if we did have an auto-reply, all it would say is “still pending. Sorry, we're getting there as fast as we can”.

   which is what we're doing.

   chuq

   Comment by Palm Developers Network — May 6, 2009 @ 7:59 pm

5. My comment on the previous post, verbatim:

   Can you speak on the availability of synchronous database API? This was added recently to HTML5/Web Storage spec and it would be amazing to have this available at launch time. I'm not aware of its implementation status in the general WebKit code base…

   Comment by Nick Carter — May 6, 2009 @ 10:08 pm

6. OK, I've read those now, looking forward to the next chapter already - I've got to do /something/ while I wait for my SDK approval *cough*hint*cough*

   Comment by Gareth — May 6, 2009 @ 10:37 pm

7. Even in lieu of the SDK, emulator, etc., some API documentation would be very helpful. I'm trying to make some design decisions for my application and don't know what's possible on the device. E.g., can a web link or SMS open an application? Does the GPS call return a location even when the signal is lost (i.e., last location, or approximate from WiFi)? What's available with respect to push updates? Is the HTML5 “web sockets” protocol supported, or do we have to resort to a streaming AJAX hack? The rough cuts documentation hasn't gotten anywhere near this. A basic outline of the APIs would be more than sufficient to keep things moving along in the design phase. Many coders are rather accustomed to “rough” documentation — it can't be any worse than the motherboard manuals in the early 90's.

   Comment by Scott — May 7, 2009 @ 12:20 am

8. I know it's not the answer people want, but until the SDK and Documentation are ready for general release, they can't be released, and until they are, I really can't say all that much.

   It's best to consider webOS as a startup in stealth mode, because in many ways, that's what's going on. There are some people getting invites to take an early look, but the primary purpose of that is to give us feedback to improve things — and to make sure the software and docs allow you to build good applications for the phone, rather than call us nasty names and write us off as idiots.

   I wish I could let more people into the early access program and do it faster than I currently am (but I only type so fast); honestly? I'd rather just release it, because there are other things I'd rather be doing than paperwork involving the early access program (like, oh, programming in webOS!) — but we want to make sure this stuff works.

   We want to see this stuff released as much as you all do; I can't wait to see what people can do with the platform. But I have to encourage everyone to continue being a bit patient. The one thing worse than not releasing this is releasing something that's broken. That's what we're working to make srue does NOT happen.

   chuq

   Comment by Palm Developers Network — May 7, 2009 @ 4:33 pm

9. It would be great if you guys had a general place to ask
   questions and make comments like this, but since you don’t
   here goes… and I guess I don’t expect an answer but I
   have to ask anyway.

   With the release date set for the Pre on June 6th, can we
   assume that the SDK is not going to be available before the
   launch of the phone?

   I’m asking because there is a lot of speculation that it could be several months before the SDK is released to
   everyone and a lot of developers are upset becuase they’ve
   lost first mover advantage because their app was not what
   Palm was looking for. The chosen ones will have had several
   months head start by the time the bulk of developers get
   the SDK. Seems like a very bad way to energize the entire
   base of developers to me. Much worse than releasing what
   you have and us calling you idiots, which we could not do
   anyway because of the NDA that I assume we would sign.

   What about a second tier of early release where we get the
   SDK but no support to limit the load on your end. Somehow
   Palm needs to make this happen becuase if it’s going
   to be several months before the general SDK release I can
   tell you a LOT of developers will forget about the Pre and
   move on. No one wants to be playing catchup from day one
   with the devs that have had several months head start.

   Comment by Sammi — May 19, 2009 @ 10:01 am

10. Any news on how developers might protect source? With a file-manager application, I imagine it will be trivial to see the HTML5, JS, and CSS associated with any given app. Do apps run in an inaccessible sandbox or something?

    Comment by Palm Pre Applications — June 6, 2009 @ 8:48 pm

11. I am very disappointed that the Palm PRE has been released and we still do not have access to the SDK. Quite frankly, Palm needs us, there are multiple mobile platforms we can develop in, Palm is just an option. All the press releases surrounding the PRE have commented on the lack of application availability. Let us help you!!!

    Apple’s developer’s conference is right around the corner, and some of us are having to make big choices right now. Most cannot spend the time developing in both environments. The PRE is an exciting device right now, but will it still be exciting next quarter? Certainly not for us if the SDK isn’t released to those of us who have already applied in the next few days.

    Comment by Tim — June 7, 2009 @ 9:30 pm

12. How do I get a refund on the book?

    I’ve went ahead and bought an IPHONE. tired of waiting around for this dumb SDK.

    Comment by brian — June 12, 2009 @ 12:38 pm

13. Please just release the SDK. Call it an “alpha” or “beta” release and don’t worry about anyone calling you an idiot. We have all been through enough software releases to know what “beta” means. Giving some developers a few months head start is wrong.

    Comment by jd — June 22, 2009 @ 11:55 am

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