Palm OS Network Programming: Writing Connected Applications for the Palm [Paperback]

Greg Winton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Programming | Publication Date: September 19, 2001

The wireless revolution has touched off a huge demand for Palm OS network applications. But information on how to connect a Palm is fragmented across dry function listings in the SDK documentation, a couple of book chapters, some sample code, and a few articles on the Palm web site (each of which assumes prior knowledge of network applications).

Palm OS Network Programming pulls all the necessary elements together in the first complete guide to developing network applications for the Palm Computing Platform. The author assumes knowledge of Palm programming in C, but no network experience is required. You'll learn Palm network concepts such as transport protocols and client-server applications from the ground up, clearly illustrated with examples using Metrowerks CodeWarrior development environment.

The Palm Net Library, essential to any network application development, gets the detailed treatment it deserves, with sample network applications demonstrating how to make the best use of this powerful system library.

Palm OS Network Programming is the first complete developer's resource to building creative--and connected--applications for the fastest-growing platform of the 21st century.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'HIT! ... Covers a difficult topic in detail with lots of examples.' Computer Shopper, February 2002

About the Author

Greg Winton has been a professional software developer for thirteen years. As director of software development for Bachmann Software and Services, he transformed a respected Windows software development company into the premier Palm solutions provider.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (September 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596000057
• ISBN-13: 978-0596000059
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,691,993 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Palm OS Network Programming Reference, February 13, 2003

By 

FredZarguna "adeveloper" (Boalsburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Palm OS Network Programming: Writing Connected Applications for the Palm (Paperback)

An excellent, well-written book with great examples that should work for both beginners and advanced users. No other book on Palm OS development [I think I own just about all of them] overlaps in any serious way with the topics treated so thoroughly in this book.

The chapters on non-blocking sockets are an absolute must-read for anybody who wants to develop robust, responsive, real-world applications for the Palm OS.

Two nit-picky items: 1) the book is somewhat more verbose than it needs to be because of irrelevancies about "the Zen of this..." and the "Tao of that...". If you ignore these altogether too-cute sidebars, you'll have a generally more productive and pleasant read. 2) there are some occasional stylistic problems with the C-code. Not errors, but things like assignments to local variables that would never be referenced that show up. The code is also somewhat more pedestrian than that employed by most working C or C++ coders. For the large audience, this might be a plus. I think the style makes it more accessible to VB and NS-Basic types. But it will be a little off-putting to the hard-core.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Palm OS Networking Book to own, July 11, 2002

By 

"leinfidel" (Irvine, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Palm OS Network Programming: Writing Connected Applications for the Palm (Paperback)

This is THE Book to have if you intend to do any type of network programming on the palm. The time you'll save in the first hour will pay for the book.

Not only is it very well written it includes many great examples, covering the simple to the complex. Even if I'm only doing something relatively simple I've found it's always worth it to see how the author's handled the situation in his examples. There's also a lot of information here that's only briefly touched on in the Palm OS Reference or not covered at all.

I'm very careful about purchasing books, usually relying on reference manuals and online docs when I can. However, this is one that I have absolutely no regrets about adding to my library.

Kevin

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent explanations and examples!, January 29, 2002

By 

edash "edash" (FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Palm OS Network Programming: Writing Connected Applications for the Palm (Paperback)

I found this book to be exactly what I was in search of - something to clearly explain how to use NetLib along with well documented examples! Greg Winton does an excellent job of taking the reader through the development of an FTP application (explaining NetLib and sockets along the way) - each chapter builds on the previous and introduces new concepts in comprehensible portions.

I admit, like most engineers, that I jumped ahead to the end to see the "whole enchilada", but then went back and reread the earlier chapters. This was still a good approach for absorbing all that is presented in this book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone venturing into networking their Palm. It is well written, concise, and contains insights from someone who is clearly experienced in networking.