Phasma ex Machina

Recently, I discovered that there was a Python scripting engine for the Symbian OS, called PyS60. Given my interest in the programming language, I gave it a try. Using the instructions on the Nokia wiki, I had an installation up and running within the general lifespan of a cup of tea. There was only one feature giving me trouble: the bluetooth interactive console. Getting that to work under Ubuntu proved to be hard to figure out, but in the end easy to solve.

Please note that this procedure involves using untested packages from a PPA. I found them perfectly fine, but then again, I am not a package developer.

The problem is, that in Ubuntu 8.04 there is a bug in the bluez-stack. The exact details can be found in this bug report, but bottom line is that the current version in Hardy does not play nice with Symbian phones, making setting up a serial connection over bluetooth impossible. Even more annoying is the fact that the proposed solution, installing the package from Debian Sid, did not work for me.

I did not want to wait until the fixes reached my distribution and after digging around I found a PPA in a duplicate of the aforementioned bug containing the fixed packages.

So basically, to update your version of bluez-utils, add the following line to your sources.list (either by editing /etc/apt/sources.list or using the gui at System->Administration->Software Sources).

code:

1	deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-kennynet/ubuntu hardy main

It will automatically inform you of new updates. Afterwards, it is best to remove the PPA from your sources.list, to prevent possible other packages from the owner seeping through.

Now, all you have to do is follow the instructions on the Nokia wiki to start developing Python programs for your phone using the Bluetooth console.