Note: If you haven’t read my first Preparation guide about WebWorks you can do it here. lol.
Now just like what i’ve said on my last post, i’m writing this because we wanted to focus more on the workshop content and less on the technical side of things. If you’re joining a Cascades workshop, this is the right article that will guide you on how to install the tools you need before the main event.
This will not be a lengthy post, so let’s get started!
Cascades is a native framework exclusively for BlackBerry 10. Cascades WILL NOT WORK on BB Smartphones <7.x and the PlayBook OS <2.1.x.
Installing the SDK
Step 1: Download BlackBerry 10 Native SDK for Windows
(If you’re using a different O.S, you might want to visit the download site: https://developer.blackberry.com/cascades/download/)
After installing the native sdk:
Step 2:
Launch the QNX Momentics IDE by running bbndk.bat in the Native SDK installation folder. In the IDE, click Window > Preferences, select BlackBerry, click BlackBerry Deployment Setup Wizard and follow the steps.
(Detailed: Set-up documentation)
Installing the BB10 Simulator
Step 1: Download VM Player (It’s free and LEGAL lol)
Step 2: Download and Install the emulators:
Download BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha Beta 3
Setting up the Simulator:
Step 1: Launch the VM Player
Step 2: Install the BB10 Simulator
Step 3: Open the BlackBerry10Simulator.vmx from where you installed the simulator.
Important Note: IF you’re experiencing Java related errors when opening the .exe files you need to download the 32-Bit version of JDK. I repeat: INSTALL THE 32-BIT VERSION AND NOT THE 64-BIT VERSION.
You can download the JDK here.
After installing the JDK, you have to update your environment variables, here’s how:
1.) go to Control panel > Systems and Security >System
2.) On the left side click the “Advanced system settings”
3.) (A new window will appear) Click the “Environment Variables”
4.) (A new window will appear… Again) Look for “System Variables” and click “new”
Variable Name: JAVA_HOME
Variable Value: YOUR 32-BIT JAVA FOLDER HERE. (Example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.7.0_09)
Take Note: JDK != JRE. So you have to be careful.
Find the “path” variable and insert this code at the end of the long list of strings in the path’s var value: %JAVA_HOME%\bin;
Click OK and OK.
To test if you have the latest JDK: Open cmd.exe on run. Type: java -version
If the response has the same version of JDK you have installed and configured then you’re doing it right.
Also an Important Note: If you’re using Windows 8 PRO all the installers (event the BlackBerry 10/PlayBook SDK’s) must be in Compatibility mode to Windows 7 and has administrative privileges.
That’s it! I hope you can use this as a guide to install these important tools. These instructions will help the speaker save more time and focus more on the important topics to be discussed on that day. You can also play with the tools you’ve just installed by following BlackBerry’s awesome documentation for Cascades available right here.
Questions? Comments? Please write a comment below.
