Ok, I first installed Platform Builder. Turns out you can only compile
trivial applications with Platform Builder. So I installed eMbedded Visual
C++ 4.0. Then I made a SDK from platform builder. When I try to install the
.msi file it tells me that "Software development tools required to use this
SDK... are not installed...", and won't let the SDK install. So what am I
supposed to do now???

I'm coming to this from a linux background and finding it absurdly
difficult. Has anyone else made this transition - can you offer some help in
trying to grasp Microsoft's philosophy? My first impression is that I
haven't seen anything this sloppy since OS/2, but I'm trying to keep an open
mind.

RE: Can't install SDK by elpeon

elpeon
Wed Mar 08 08:32:34 CST 2006

Ok, well, apparently if you go to the web page that the error message points
to, and then hit cancel you can install the SDK anyway. So, I'll push on
further...

But boy, this sure doesn't inspire confidence...

"elpeon" wrote:

> Ok, I first installed Platform Builder. Turns out you can only compile
> trivial applications with Platform Builder. So I installed eMbedded Visual
> C++ 4.0. Then I made a SDK from platform builder. When I try to install the
> .msi file it tells me that "Software development tools required to use this
> SDK... are not installed...", and won't let the SDK install. So what am I
> supposed to do now???
>
> I'm coming to this from a linux background and finding it absurdly
> difficult. Has anyone else made this transition - can you offer some help in
> trying to grasp Microsoft's philosophy? My first impression is that I
> haven't seen anything this sloppy since OS/2, but I'm trying to keep an open
> mind.

Re: Can't install SDK by Dean

Dean
Wed Mar 08 10:04:40 CST 2006

Backup, what are you actually trying to do? You should only be using
Platform Builder if you are building the operating system for a particular
device. For application development, you should be using either Visual
Studio or Embedded Visual C++ (make sure you have the latest Service Pack
installed, I think it's SP4).

If you are trying to write applications, you need an SDK. That SDK needs to
be provided by whoever created the OS image. You shouldn't need to generate
one yourself. If you can't get one, then it is possible to create one
yourself with Platform Builder, but you open yourself up to the risk that
your app won't run properly on the target.

If you're building applications for WindowsMobile devices, the SDKs are
available from Microsoft.

--
Dean Ramsier - eMVP
BSQUARE Corporation


"elpeon" <elpeon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:771053B1-33A8-4D5E-9BFE-0FDA57425ED7@microsoft.com...
> Ok, well, apparently if you go to the web page that the error message
> points
> to, and then hit cancel you can install the SDK anyway. So, I'll push on
> further...
>
> But boy, this sure doesn't inspire confidence...
>
> "elpeon" wrote:
>
>> Ok, I first installed Platform Builder. Turns out you can only compile
>> trivial applications with Platform Builder. So I installed eMbedded
>> Visual
>> C++ 4.0. Then I made a SDK from platform builder. When I try to install
>> the
>> .msi file it tells me that "Software development tools required to use
>> this
>> SDK... are not installed...", and won't let the SDK install. So what am
>> I
>> supposed to do now???
>>
>> I'm coming to this from a linux background and finding it absurdly
>> difficult. Has anyone else made this transition - can you offer some
>> help in
>> trying to grasp Microsoft's philosophy? My first impression is that I
>> haven't seen anything this sloppy since OS/2, but I'm trying to keep an
>> open
>> mind.



Re: Can't install SDK by elpeon

elpeon
Wed Mar 08 12:16:27 CST 2006

Whoops, I had neglected to apply SP4 to eMbedded VC++. I retried the SDK
install and it ran fine after SP4 was applied. Who'd a thunk it. Must be
looking for registry settings or something. By the way, Dean, I've had
another issue that never got resolved - do you know if there is any doc about
BUILD.EXE errors - the BUILD.EXE of PlatformBuilder? I'm evaluating WinCE at
this point, and so I don't just want to fix problems, I want to evaluate if
sufficient support is available to diagnose problems that come up. My great
fear is having some problem crop up in the middle of a big project and not
having any way to track it down. We're looking at putting a high performance
graphics app on this hardware and we've got to be able to know exactly what's
going on in there. Will I basically need to buy some support from somebody,
or is info freely available?

"Dean Ramsier" wrote:

> Backup, what are you actually trying to do? You should only be using
> Platform Builder if you are building the operating system for a particular
> device. For application development, you should be using either Visual
> Studio or Embedded Visual C++ (make sure you have the latest Service Pack
> installed, I think it's SP4).
>
> If you are trying to write applications, you need an SDK. That SDK needs to
> be provided by whoever created the OS image. You shouldn't need to generate
> one yourself. If you can't get one, then it is possible to create one
> yourself with Platform Builder, but you open yourself up to the risk that
> your app won't run properly on the target.
>
> If you're building applications for WindowsMobile devices, the SDKs are
> available from Microsoft.
>
> --
> Dean Ramsier - eMVP
> BSQUARE Corporation
>
>
> "elpeon" <elpeon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:771053B1-33A8-4D5E-9BFE-0FDA57425ED7@microsoft.com...
> > Ok, well, apparently if you go to the web page that the error message
> > points
> > to, and then hit cancel you can install the SDK anyway. So, I'll push on
> > further...
> >
> > But boy, this sure doesn't inspire confidence...
> >
> > "elpeon" wrote:
> >
> >> Ok, I first installed Platform Builder. Turns out you can only compile
> >> trivial applications with Platform Builder. So I installed eMbedded
> >> Visual
> >> C++ 4.0. Then I made a SDK from platform builder. When I try to install
> >> the
> >> .msi file it tells me that "Software development tools required to use
> >> this
> >> SDK... are not installed...", and won't let the SDK install. So what am
> >> I
> >> supposed to do now???
> >>
> >> I'm coming to this from a linux background and finding it absurdly
> >> difficult. Has anyone else made this transition - can you offer some
> >> help in
> >> trying to grasp Microsoft's philosophy? My first impression is that I
> >> haven't seen anything this sloppy since OS/2, but I'm trying to keep an
> >> open
> >> mind.
>
>
>

Re: Can't install SDK by Dean

Dean
Wed Mar 08 15:17:09 CST 2006

The freely available support is right here, you'll need to be the judge.
Doing google searches of these groups can tell you a lot. There is a lot of
activity on the newsgoups, and the MS folks also join in. However, there is
no guarantee you'll get an answer here. I, for one, didn't answer your
build.exe question because I didn't know the answer and didn't take the time
to try and research it.

There is paid support available from various third parties including
BSquare. Depending on what the problem is, this can be pretty useful. If
it's a problem deep within the tools that we have no visibility into, then
we might not be able to help. Another option for those with $$$ is to get a
support contract directly with Microsoft. Both of these options will get
you better responsiveness, and people working on your issues.


--
Dean Ramsier - eMVP
BSQUARE Corporation


"elpeon" <elpeon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EC9B7CCF-FC9B-4329-AB4C-1E5759843C52@microsoft.com...
> Whoops, I had neglected to apply SP4 to eMbedded VC++. I retried the SDK
> install and it ran fine after SP4 was applied. Who'd a thunk it. Must be
> looking for registry settings or something. By the way, Dean, I've had
> another issue that never got resolved - do you know if there is any doc
> about
> BUILD.EXE errors - the BUILD.EXE of PlatformBuilder? I'm evaluating WinCE
> at
> this point, and so I don't just want to fix problems, I want to evaluate
> if
> sufficient support is available to diagnose problems that come up. My
> great
> fear is having some problem crop up in the middle of a big project and not
> having any way to track it down. We're looking at putting a high
> performance
> graphics app on this hardware and we've got to be able to know exactly
> what's
> going on in there. Will I basically need to buy some support from
> somebody,
> or is info freely available?
>
> "Dean Ramsier" wrote:
>
>> Backup, what are you actually trying to do? You should only be using
>> Platform Builder if you are building the operating system for a
>> particular
>> device. For application development, you should be using either Visual
>> Studio or Embedded Visual C++ (make sure you have the latest Service Pack
>> installed, I think it's SP4).
>>
>> If you are trying to write applications, you need an SDK. That SDK needs
>> to
>> be provided by whoever created the OS image. You shouldn't need to
>> generate
>> one yourself. If you can't get one, then it is possible to create one
>> yourself with Platform Builder, but you open yourself up to the risk that
>> your app won't run properly on the target.
>>
>> If you're building applications for WindowsMobile devices, the SDKs are
>> available from Microsoft.
>>
>> --
>> Dean Ramsier - eMVP
>> BSQUARE Corporation
>>
>>
>> "elpeon" <elpeon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:771053B1-33A8-4D5E-9BFE-0FDA57425ED7@microsoft.com...
>> > Ok, well, apparently if you go to the web page that the error message
>> > points
>> > to, and then hit cancel you can install the SDK anyway. So, I'll push
>> > on
>> > further...
>> >
>> > But boy, this sure doesn't inspire confidence...
>> >
>> > "elpeon" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Ok, I first installed Platform Builder. Turns out you can only
>> >> compile
>> >> trivial applications with Platform Builder. So I installed eMbedded
>> >> Visual
>> >> C++ 4.0. Then I made a SDK from platform builder. When I try to
>> >> install
>> >> the
>> >> .msi file it tells me that "Software development tools required to use
>> >> this
>> >> SDK... are not installed...", and won't let the SDK install. So what
>> >> am
>> >> I
>> >> supposed to do now???
>> >>
>> >> I'm coming to this from a linux background and finding it absurdly
>> >> difficult. Has anyone else made this transition - can you offer some
>> >> help in
>> >> trying to grasp Microsoft's philosophy? My first impression is that I
>> >> haven't seen anything this sloppy since OS/2, but I'm trying to keep
>> >> an
>> >> open
>> >> mind.
>>
>>
>>