A workflow-based IDE for J2ME applications

Abstract

The recent introduction of Sun's Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) has given a new life to the wireless application industry. The Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) is a subset of J2ME and allows many new types of applications to be developed for different devices such as mobile phones, handhelds and PDAs. Traditionally the business logic of wireless applications was placed on the server. MIDP allows a shifting of this programming paradigm where some of the application logic can be placed on the mobile device, providing many new possibilities for wireless application developers. In addition, the new Bluetooth technology allows development of client-to-client applications, where a program residing on one device can transfer data and use services residing on another device, using Bluetooth technology as a bearer for data transfer. The main objective of this project is to develop an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that allows rapid application of MIDP programs, abstracting the developer away from low-level functionalities such as data transfer and local data storage, and allowing the developer to split the functionality of the program between a client and a server, or between two different clients. The IDE should also allow the developer to specify the flow of the program by connecting components using a visual assembler, automating the data transfer between different components, even those residing on different systems. The IDE should then generate all the required code for these programs to execute. This report describes the design and implementation of the J2ME workflow-based IDE. This IDE was designed to allow the developer to rapidly create MIDP applications, known as MIDlets. For this reason, it provides a number of tools that help in accomplishing this goal, allowing the developer to create MIDP applications without having to learn the new underlying technologies.