Getting Started

To help you become familiar with the Windows® Embedded Studio for Windows XP Embedded tool suite and features, this section includes the following:

An installation guide.
Details about new features and updates.
Locations of product updates, service packs and Quick Fix Engineering (QFE) for Windows XP Embedded.
A listing of online resources and communities.
A tutorial for building and deploying a run-time image.
A tutorial for creating a custom component.

Before reviewing these sections, familiarize yourself with the following terms:

Component
Smallest individually selectable piece of functionality that can be included in or excluded from a run-time image. A component is comprised of properties and resources, such as files, registry entries, and dependency information. It is the most basic element in a configuration.
Component database
Central database that holds the metadata necessary to define one or more componentized operating systems. Includes platforms, components, repositories, resource types and groups, but not configurations.
Design template
Set of data that contains all the information necessary to build a Windows XP-based embedded run-time image, including which components to include. A configuration is contained in a file that has the .slx extension.
Device
Hardware for which you design and on which you deploy your embedded run-time image.
Repository
Folder that serves as a storage area used as the source for all embedded run-time image files required during the build process. There may be multiple repositories for a single installation.
.sld file
File that contains component definitions and related data. The file is created and edited by Component Designer and imported into the component database by Component Database Manager.

For more definitions of terms discussed in the online Help, see the Glossary.

Additional resources