S60 Open to new features

Well, I'm still adding tests to it. I'm afraid I didn't get them all written in time for the smartphone show :)

I'm sure I can find something for the tool to bitch about!

The error messages on the phone leave a lot to be desired.

For example:
"Constrained by the certificate" - WTF
In English "Your IMEI is not valid for this certificate" - if you think this obvious in the last month 2 developers, one R&D Manager, 4 testing guys and 2 product managers have all escalated this to me becuase my claim to fame is that I know what the error messages mean.

Likewise, starting the application does nothing error - This is normally the result of the wrong filename in the _reg or _loc file. Why can't it just say "missing registration file" when you click on the application to start it?

Or my favourite - if there is a duplicate dll or exe with the same uid and you try to install you get a cryptic error like "Install error" or something like that - Why can't it say " already exists" or even better " already exists in "

Likewise when using the emulator the RLoader really needs output more useful information about why it failed to load a certain dll or exe.
For example report that a UID is wrong

Unfortunatly these are not carbide issues :(

Paul, I agree -- Symbian error messages are cryptic when it comes to platform security issues. This is why I've requested from Symbian that the messages displayed during platsec issues be more descriptive (i.e. no more "error codes"). Platsec errors are going to be visible only to developers since no app will be certified with them, so might as well have descriptive and useful platsec errors/warnings -- such as, "your application is using capability X, but the certificate doesn't allow it." Now THAT would be useful!

//markus

Now that would be useful!

In the meantime Symbian has opened the devkit doc on diagnosing sis install failures which is my little secret stash of useful stuff.

Download it here - http://www3.symbian.com/faq.nsf/0/20D1DE558D34430B002571FB002052CD?OpenDocument

Markus,

There is very little point complaining to Symbian about the lack of useful error messages. The install server gives plenty of information (except in one or two edge cases), the real problem is the S60 UI (and the UIQ UI too...) decides to discard all the information and give bland, non-descriptive error notes.

I'd take it up with the S60 install UI team, if I were you.

Chris,

I probably should have been more clear about my request -- it wasn't regarding installation messages per se; rather, the messages that the device shows when it tries to access a platsec capability during runtime. These seem to be the trickiest problems to resolve so better error messages would be useful.

Agreed -- I'm not aware of where the actual problem is, Symbian or S60. Let's see what the response from Symbian is on this...