Introduction
The Xandros ASUS Software Development Kit is software and documentation to
develop applications for ASUS products that include the Xandros operating system.
Specifically, it is for creating applications that run on the Launcher, which is more
commonly known as Simple mode in the ASUS Eee PC and EP20 computers, for
example. Use the software development kit to develop applications that run on these
products.
Software development kit
The software development kit is a set of development applications and tools that
provide an environment to develop applications for the Launcher in any language
supported by ASUS products.
The development platform is the Xandros Desktop – Open Circulation Edition, where
Xandros Desktop is a Linux operating system and suite of software, and the Open
Circulation Edition is a free version of Xandros Desktop. So you obtain a copy of
Xandros Desktop – Open Circulation Edition, version 4.5 specifically, and install it on a
computer. Optionally, you can install it on a computer as a virtual machine (VM) using
VMware, instead of on a separate computer. When you install Xandros Desktop – Open
Circulation Edition, on a computer or as a virtual machine, you are installing the
following items:
• Xandros Desktop – Open Circulation Edition version 4.5, which is an operating
system and software suite that includes the software development kit. The
software development kit includes:
• Eclipse, to develop your application
• Qt, to develop your application
• Qt 4 plug-in for Eclipse
• Debian packaging wizard developed by Xandros
You need to use Eclipse, Qt, and the code and procedures as installed with the Open
Circulation Edition. If you have Eclipse and Qt already installed on a computer, you can
use them, then transfer your files to the Xandros Desktop computer. Similarly, if you
know how to package files in the Debian format, then you do not need the packaging
wizard included. But you need the Open Circulation Edition to modify files that define
where your applicaiton goes in the ASUS product.
The following chapters in this document outline how to create an application for ASUS
products:
• Application Development — To create an application that works with ASUS
products
• Packaging — To package your application for installation on the ASUS products
• Virtual Machine Use — To use VMware to install Xandros Desktop – Open
Circulation Edition and/or to install the ASUS product (for example the Eee PC
build) to test your application
• Miscellaneous — Outlines localization, maintaining your package, and provides
links to obtain more information
Software required
This document assumes a basic knowledge of Linux operating systems and
programming with Qt and C++.
The following software is required:
• Xandros Desktop – Open Circulation Edition version 4.5, to get and use the
software development kit. This document is included with it.
• VMware, to install and run Xandros Desktop – Open Circulation Edition as a virtual
machine and/or to install the ASUS product as a virtual machine to install and test
your application. Use of VMware is optional. You can install Xandros Desktop -
Open Circulation Edition on a computer and use your Eee PC to test your new
application, in which case you do not need VMware.