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View Full Version : Confusion regarding Signing

Madcap
06-04-2004, 07:22 PM
What does it mean when developers say that they need to get their program signed by Tapwave. If it is not, will it still run?

THank you
SiliGoose
06-05-2004, 10:01 AM
There are two clasifications of the Tapwave devices: consumer models & developer models. Games written to specifically take advantage of the Zodiac's hardware need to be approved (licensed) by Tapwave prior to public release.

Prior to public release unsigned apps will only run on developer Zodiacs.
dgtiii
06-05-2004, 12:08 PM
Not quite correct, Siligoose. You make it sound like there are 2 types of Zodiacs when you say 2 'devices', which is not true. The Zodiac is the same, whether you are a developer or a consumer. The signing thing in a nutshell: Tapwave has hardware-specific API's for things like anit-aliasing, screen smoothing, etc. If a game or program calls on those API's to work, then the application must be 'signed' by Tapwave prior to release in order to be able to run on consumer's Zodiacs. In order to be able to test and develop their apps, obviously developers need some way around the signing to be able to run their apps during development. Developers can apply to Tapwave for a developer application (DAA), which they install on their Z, and allows them to run unsigned apps which still use the Tapwave API's. Other developers with the DAA app can run the application/game also, allowing for alpha/beta testing. When the developer is ready, he sends his app to Tapwave, they sign it, then it can be released to the general public. Running an unsigned app on a Zodiac without the DAA will cause a soft reset, and a message reading the 'app must be signed by Tapwave in order to run on your device'. Hope this helps clear things up.

Del
Ezikial Anta
06-06-2004, 09:24 PM
Are there many unsigned apps for the device?
dgtiii
06-07-2004, 11:29 AM
Are there many unsigned apps for the device?

No. All 'regular' Palm apps and games (Bejeweled, ereader, Pocket Tunes, etc.) do not use the Tapwave API's, and so don't need signed to work on the Zodiac. Again, unsigned apps are only used by developers, usually during beta testing. The two major unsigned ones right now are Ljz (SNES emulator, among others) and Castaway *Atari ST emulator).

Del