links for 2008-04-12
Posted on by Patrick-
Some nice looking free icons
Tonight I wrote the following:
git tag 0.1
What that means is I tagged version 0.1 of my first Cocoa App. I was able to get this version done in about 3 hours and it has all the features I’ve learned from the weekend. The UI took the longest part as I had to keep changing things as I learned more. In the end, I went back to a super simple UI to start and will be building up from there.
I’m purposefully not divulging much information because I want to get more complete before I announce this app to the world. It’s not a very exciting app, but I still want to keep it under wraps.
I’m still impressed with Cocoa. Now, I’m to the point of searching the API docs to get most of the functionality I’m looking for. Although I still need to read the basics of using Core Data.
It’s been almost two hole days with Aaron Hillegass’ Cocoa Book and I’m about three quarters of the way through it.
This book is what I have been looking for to help guide me into Cocoa after several weeks of just trying to figure it out on my own. Now with Hillegass’ foundation, I think I can easily move on learning just by looking at the regular Apple docs.
I want to note that this is the first tutorial/learning type computer book covering an environment that the sample apps actually do some amazing things. Before being halfway through the book, I had a pretty sophisticated sample app that had document saving/opening and full undo/redo support. More amazing was how easy it was to do those things. The total amount of code for that project is 150 lines of code that do the work. ( I’m cheating and not counting the code on the model or the header files, but they are quite small ).
Building the GUI with Interface Builder is initially a little awkward, but I’ve gotten used to it and can operate pretty quickly. I think it’s very ironic that Interface Builder is quite possibly the least intuitive application on my Mac. Considering the amazing intuitive applications that get built with it.
All-in-all, I’m very impressed with Cocoa and the tools used to build OS X applications. I’m going to get my app started this weekend and report on it’s progress and my progress through OS X technologies over the coming months.
Some of you may be asking yourselves, “Does he mean he’s going to be programming hot chocolate?” The answer to that is “No”. Cocoa is the technology behind programs on Apple’s OS X. Learning Cocoa has always been on my todo list, and now I’ve decided to finally tackle it.
Tonight I received “the book” on learning Cocoa and will be starting my learning process. I’m hoping to blog as I go along. I have an application in mind to build, but I’m going to save what it is for later.
So those of you who follow for personal updates, well, expect some technical ones for a while. I guess the good news will be that I’m posting!
So here’s to a fun adventure with Cocoa.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9T5cxnowyA[/youtube]
Pretty funny stuff from the man most people only think of as Harry Potter. Goes well with my Patrick Stewart post over on Clusterflock.
Well, in a matter of an hour of signing and initialing, our house is up for sale. Maggie and her parents have done a lot of work to get this house ready. I helped when I could on the weekends since this is the busiest time of year for me at work.
I’ll get some pictures posted tomorrow and hopefully the MLS listing as well. If you know anyone looking for a house in the McKinney, TX area, let us know!
For those that don’t know, we’re moving because we want to get closer to my work since the 32 mile commute is kinda killer on time and sanity. We’re looking to relocate in the Richardson/Lake Highlands area. We love McKinney, but it’s just too far away from where I work.
Update: Link to MLS entry http://www.realtor.com/realestate/mckinney-tx-75070-1095581224/
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s13sASS5F4[/youtube]
A great song showing how many songs essentially use the same chord progression as Journey’s “Can’t Stop Believing”. Thanks Jim ( via M@ ) for the link.
I just read my first Hemmingway story:
“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”That’s it. 6 words. So many emotions at once. There’s a Wired piece where they got other authors to attempt to tell a story in 6 words. It’s pretty good.
via Will
Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster. I wrote about it earlier today on Clusterflock and I don’t have much more to add. The title of this entry, and the accompanning video are different than that entry. I got them from Thingamababy. Hearing the almost robotic way the PA announcer says “Obviously a major malfunction” is to me a bit disturbing and I think makes a great title. Also more disturbing in this video is watching Christa McAuliffe’s parent’s reaction.
The Wikipedia entry is even more amazing, especially when I read the parts about how the crew probably survived past the separation of the vehicle from the external tank and that it wasn’t an explosion in the normal sense. Aerodynamic forces ripped the orbiter apart and if it had actually exploded, there wouldn’t have been any bits to pickup. A definite eye opener.
Very impressive. Even more so when you realize he’s 9 years old.
I just saw a post over at Will’s blog about this and I was amazed. Watch and enjoy: