Windows CE 5.0 Application Developer - What are the options?

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I posted recently about the release of Visual Studio 2005 and that you need the Professional version to develop native or managed applications for Windows CE 5.0 (or Windows Mobile 5.0) devices.

So what are the options for application developers using/targeting Windows CE 5.0 ?

  • Platform Builder - C/C++ Win32 applications and DLL's (DLL's can be drivers) - free evaluation kit, or $995 for the full product (available through distributors)
  • eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0 SP4 - Win32, C/C++ applications and DLL's, and MFC/ATL support - this is a free download from MSDN
  • Visual Studio 2003 - Managed application development using C#/VB against the .NET Compact Framework 1.0 (not free)
  • Visual Studio 2005 - Native Win32, MFC, ATL, STL, WTL application/DLL development, AND Managed application development (C#/VB) using the .NET Compact Framework 2.0 (not free)

- Mike