Skip Navigation LinksHome > Chumby
  Skip Navigation Links.  

Chumby Development

This page contains information and examples for developing Chumby widgets using only the FlashDevelop open-source application.
IMHO: All Chumby Widgets should be made with FlashDevlop as everything about these devices is open-source and hackable.



Simple Clock Widget


Code and information for the Simple Clock widget is availible at Google Project: analog-clock-for-chumby.

Getting started developing Chumby Widgets with FlashDevelop


Introduction

This project is geared for developers who wish to write widgets for the Chumby devices and do not have the Adobe Tools to build the Flash widgets. If you came to this project to look for an example project for FlashDevelop keep in mind that the Chumby devices currently use ActionScript 2 which is an old version of ActionScript. ActionScript 3 came out in 2006 so this example may not be a good example for creating Flash Applications for other platforms. A good first project for the Chumby is a clock application as it does not require any advance techniques such as connection to another web site or accessing any specific hardware. The application does pose a few challenges which will help you to understand how to write widgets for Chumby devices. There are many examples for how to write widgets for Chumby devices however few provide examples of how to create a widget using only ActionScript. This is rather ironic as the Chumby devices are open devices which encourage both hardware and software modification.

Environment

Prerequisites for installing FlashDevelop from http://www.flashdevelop.org/wikidocs/index.php?title=Installation

  • Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP or better
  • Flash Player 10.1 ActiveX runtime (required by the browser control)
  • TortoiseSVN or TortoiseGit (required if using the source control)
  • Java 1.6 runtime (JRE) (required if using the Flex SDK)

Download FlashDevelop from http://www.flashdevelop.org/

Once FlashDevelop is installed, it is recommended to install the Chumby widget template from http://code.google.com/p/chumbydevelop/. This template will create a blank project with the parameters set for the Chumby devices. If you decide not to install the template, you will need to set the options manually when creating a new project.

If you installed the latest version of FlashDevelop, the template may not be visible in the list of project types when creating a new project. For FlashDevelop 4, the template needs to be copied to C:\Program Files (x86)\FlashDevelop\Projects\060 ActionScript 2 - Chumby Project.

Opening and modifying the project

Download and open the latest version of the project from the Downloads page. If you see an error message "Object reference not set to an instance of an object.", you may ignore it as it does not cause any problems with the project. (A bug report has been submitted to the FlashDevelop team.)
FlashDevelop Error Message - 'System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. at AS2Context.Context.BuildClassPath() at ASCompletion.Context.ASContext.set_CurrentFile(String value) at ASCompletion.Context.ASContext.SetCurrentFile(ITabbedDocument doc, Boolean shouldIgnore) at ASCompletion.PluginMain.HandleEvent(Object sender, NotifyEvent e, HandlingPriority prority)'

Project Files

Analog Clock Project Files
  • bin folder - Contains the complied Flash Application.
  • library folder - Contains images and resources which are used by the flash application
    NOTE: Items in blue are included in the compiled application and may be accessed when running the application while those in black are not added to the application and cannot be accessed from the running application
  • src folder
    • clock folder - Contains classes written to represent various clock objects.
    • util folder - Collection of classes included in the Chumby temlate. These classes provide access to some of the Chumby's hardware such as the accelerometer.
  • AnalogClock.jpg - A 80x60 pixel image used to represent the widget on the Chumby.com website.


Text Chumby Widget


This widget allows you to send a message to your Chumby from your web application.