Use Widget SDK to quickly deploy web content on BlackBerry

Research In Motion release the BlackBerry Widget Packager in late 2009 for web developer who are willing to develop web content driven application on BlackBerry a shortcut to success. Here is the description about the package on the BlackBerry website.

” The BlackBerry Widget Packager 1.0 Beta 2 is a new tool that allows web developers to package up their web assets into BlackBerry Widgets (small, discrete, standalone web applications that use HTML, CSS and JavaScript®). A BlackBerry Widget looks, behaves and has the same security mechanisms as a native BlackBerry smartphone application. BlackBerry Widgets can be installed on a BlackBerry smartphone like any native application and extended to use device-specific information and data using the BlackBerry Widget APIs. ”

If you understand Adobe AIR, think of this is AIR on BlackBerry but only supports Javascript. The idea behind this product is to consider a native BB app as a web system. HTML controls the content, CSS controls the look & feed, and finally Javascript controls event handling or sometimes called behavior. Beyond that you can use the API RIM provided to assess the native resources of the BlackBerry devices. And that’s the only new knowledge you need to learn. The API is a powerful library that hands you the power to read, write information on a BB device, to invoke a home call or SMS, even to interact with the GPS system.

As a web developer you can develop web content in any IDE of your preference. To run your web content on a BlackBerry device, you need to create a config file that tells the device about the application you are going to deploy including version, permission and a pointer to the home page. Once all the ingredients are ready, you do the magic to brake/compile the site to a Java application package readable to the device. Don’t get scared of compiling a application if you are a script writer. Essentially all everything gets compiled, and that’s how computer works. RIM also make the compiling process painless by using BlackBerry Widget Packager. The entire process doesn’t take longer than 5 mins.

If you are a javascript web developer and you have experienced OO programming and web API, here is something to get you started.

In terms for development tools, there is a number of options mentioned on the BlackBerry web site that could be some how confusing for developers that don’t have any experience with Java. Here is a list of tools to get your start.

First of all you need a Windows environment, but Parallel on OSx works too.

You will also need to sign up for a free BB developer account before you can download the tools.

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/developers/

Java Development Kit

(Programs written in Java need this to run)

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/widget/jdk6.jsp

BlackBerry Web Plug-In with Eclipse 3.4

(This is recommended by RIM but you can use any IDE you prefer)

https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/contactFormPreload.do?code=DC727151...

BlackBerry Widget Packager

(This program convert a web site to a BlackBerry application)

http://www.blackberry.com/developers/widget

BlackBerry Device Simulator

(You need a simulator to test your program before it gets deployed to an actually device. All available simulators can be found in the combox on the bottom right corner. You need a V 5.0 simulator but the Strom and Strom 2 work the best. Trust me on this you will appreciate it one day)

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/developers/

Once you have everything installed. Here is the place you can find all the resources about the Widget SDK. Make sure you watch the video

“How to Use the BlackBerry Widget Packager to Create Your BlackBerry Widget”

before you start.

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/developers/devbetasoftware/widgetsdk.jsp

Okay. Now you should have everything to start. Hope one day this will be the new highlight of your portfolio.