Open C/C++

Create rich application engines and middleware for S60 3rd Edition devices and S60 5th Edition devices using your C/C++ PC-programming skills.

With the availability of Open C/C++, the S60 platform — the world’s most popular smartphone platform — is now open to a huge number of developers.

Delivering an extensive range of standard C and C++ APIs, this technology is ideal for porting PC applications to S60 devices, as well as creating application engines and middleware.

What are the benefits?

With Open C/C++, the S60 platform becomes a viable development option for a wide range of developers.

The APIs delivered in Open C/C++ make it easy to port existing PC software to the S60 platform, allowing developers to leverage their investment in code and development-skills to take advantage of the growing market for S60 applications. The APIs also help developers who lack knowledge of the Symbian OS and S60 APIs to contribute application engines and middleware to new S60 application projects.

It's important to note that using the Open C/C++ APIs doesn't put developers at a disadvantage: The performance characteristics closely match those of similar native S60 APIs.

Open C/C++ in the S60 platform architecture

What API libraries does Open C/C++ deliver?

The libraries provided by Open C/C++ include:

• C libraries (Open C) that deliver functions from nine well-known standard POSIX and middleware C libraries: libc, libdl, libpthread, libm, libz, libcrypt, libcrypto, libglib, and libssl.
  For more information, see the S60 5th Edition C++ Developer's Library Open C section »
• C++ libraries (Open C++) that incorporate the IOStreams, STL, and Boost libraries.
  For more information, see the S60 5th Edition C++ Developer's Library Open C++ section »

What tools are available?

To enable the creation of Open C/C++ software, Forum Nokia provides the Open C/C++ Plug-in. This plug-in installs into any S60 3rd Edition or S60 5th Edition SDK. The plug-in delivers the headers and libraries that enable application development and testing of Open C/C++ software on a PC, S60 device installation files that provide the DLLs to enable the execution of software on devices, example applications, and comprehensive documentation of the APIs.

Download the Open C/C++ Plug-in »

How do I get started with Open C/C++ development?

To make use of the Open C/C++ Plug-in, you should have an understanding of development using standard C/C++ libraries. No specific understanding of Symbian C++ development is required, unless you wish to build a standard S60 interface for your application. An understanding of the Symbian OS build tools is necessary to package any application for deployment to an S60 device.

To start, you’ll need to install an S60 3rd Edition for Symbian OS for C++ or later SDK and then add the Open C/C++ Plug-in to that installation. To do this, you’ll require the hardware and software necessary for the installation of your chosen S60 SDK, as well as an additional 109 MB of disk space for the plug-in.

Once the Open C/C++ Plug-in has been installed, you can access the Open C/C++ for S60 devices installation files, documentation, and example applications.

For more information, visit the Getting started with Open C or Getting started with The Standard C++ Library sections of the S60 5th Edition C++ Developer's Library.

What are the limitations of Open C/C++?

Open C/C++ doesn't provide standard C/C++ APIs for the S60 UI or the S60 application engines, such as calendar, contacts, and messaging applications. To build applications with a standard S60 look and feel, developers will have to use S60 APIs or employ Python for S60. Similarly, to access the standard S60 application engines, Symbian OS and S60 APIs will be required.

In the future, Qt for S60 will also provide a mechanism to create a UI with the S60 look and feel, providing another option for adding a UI to application engines created with Open C/C++. In addition, it's worth noting that the Mobile Extensions for Qt for S60 make use of the Open C/C++ APIs and provide access to some commonly used S60 platform features. Note that the APIs in the Mobile Extensions for Qt for S60 are being progressively migrated to Qt Mobility. Qt for S60, the Mobile Extensions for Qt for S60, and Qt Mobility are currently available as technology previews.

What's happening to RGA?

With the release of Open C/C++ 1.6, the Real-Time Graphics and Audio (RGA) API is no longer supported. Developers who want standard APIs for graphics should investigate the OpenGL ES APIs provided in the S60 platform. For UI development using non-Symbian APIs, developers may wish to explore Qt for S60.

On which Nokia devices can I run Open C/C++ software?

Middleware and applications with Open C/C++ engines can be run on all S60 5th Edition devices and S60 3rd Edition devices. Devices based on S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 2 have the Open C APIs delivered in their firmware, and devices based on S60 5th Edition include the Open C/C++ APIs. The Open C/C++ Plug-in includes S60 installation files to add or update Open C/C++ 1.6 support on all S60 5th Edition devices and S60 3rd Edition devices.

See specifications for S60 3rd Edition devices here »
See specifications for S60 5th Edition devices here »

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