Sidebar Gadget Development
So, I want to make a directions sidebar gadget. So it would be 2 fields, start address, end address. Then a button, get directions. It would open Mapquest in a separate window. Help, please
PS, This would be my first gadget. I have the real release of Windows Vista, if that matters.
nikog wrote:
Maybe there already is gadget like that http://microsoftgadgets.com/Tags/maps
You really should look at Windows Live Gallery rather than MicrosoftGadgets.com, as the latter has been deprecated. I only see one gadget on Gallery that has anything to do with directions, and that's a Web Gadget rather than a Sidebar gadget. That said, even if someone else has already written a similar gadget, there's no reason why Eirian can't or shouldn't write his/her own gadget as well. If nobody was allowed to write a gadget that does the same thing as an already existing gadget, a good 75% of the available gadgets would not exist (lots of clocks, CPU/memory/battery/wi-fi monitors, calendars, etc).
When someone starts getting into building games, it's usually recommended that they try their hand at a few simple games. Write Tetris, Hangman, Pac-Man, etc. That way you learn the concepts without being overwhelmed by the game logic. Similarly, if you're just starting to learn how to write gadgets, why not start with a concept that's already been done to death That way you can focus on learning the concepts behind writing gadgets without having to worry about the feasibility of the idea. Get a few gadgets under your belt that way (don't submit "test" gadgets to Gallery, please) and when you're feeling comfortable with the concepts and framework of gadgets you can go on and build your award winning, world-changing gadget.