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Author Archives: Extelligent Cocoa
Zombie File Found
In users/library there is a folder with the name of my application that contains appname.storedata I have no idea why it’s there, and why it and *only* it is there, but that was the file that created the problem. However, … Continue reading
How to make people give up programming
In which Apple breaks Core Data and leaves me with an invisible, undeletable data store that is messing up development and which cost me several hours of my life. Which I want back. Continue reading
Xcode 4 samples
I found Apple’s samples, but not in a place I would have looked for them. Continue reading
C Structures and Enum
C code for enum and struct – I have no idea under which conditions one would use them. Continue reading
Posted in Virtual Zoo, Wiki
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Sticky landing
Moving to Xcode 4 Continue reading
The Snow Leopard Has Landed
I’ve upgraded my main OS from Tiger to Snow Leopard – I will continue to dual boot, but this means that I’ll have more opportunities to dabble in Xcode, and it also means that I’m moving wholly to garbage-collected code. … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Resources: Booklisting
http://www.igor-delovski.iz.hr/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3785 has a very long list of Cocoa (OS X/iPhone) books. It’s an exceedingly comprehensive list; many of these are books I hadn’t even heard of and wouldn’t have known how to look for them. Some of them just stand … Continue reading
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Encapsulation: the First Principle
Encapsulation as the principle that underlies almost every aspect of a Cocoa application. This post contains both the concept and a practical example from the Virtual Zoo. Continue reading
Starting Programming: The Gestalt Approach
Using a Gestalt Approach (understanding the whole before focussing on individual aspects) as a strategy for beginner programmers. Continue reading
Posted in Application Design, Teaching Programming
Tagged Gestalt, learning programming, learning styles, rantage
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Text Handling Overview
I’m posting this as a mainstream post instead of merely as code snippets because I want to talk about the _conceptual_ side of text-in-Cocoa. Apple might have a long and detailed guide but, as usual, it helps me to work … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Wiki
Tagged NSLayoutManager, NSString, NSTextContainer, NSTextStorage, NSTextView
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The Book Not Reviewed
Marcus S. Zarra, Core Data I’m not reviewing it for three reasons: a), right now I can’t follow the examples very far because they are OS X.5 based, b), many of the items the book talks about are beyond the … Continue reading
Posted in Culture of Programming, Teaching Programming
Tagged hidden assumptions, rantage
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NSTextView and Core Data: why do we even ask?
Last year, when I first discovered CoreData, I experimented a little, but failed at binding an NSTextView to Core Data. Set Core Data Value[1827] *** NSRunLoop ignoring exception ‘Cannot create NSData from object newTag of class NSCFString’ that raised during … Continue reading
Posted in Culture of Programming
Tagged Core Data, hidden assumptions, NSTextView, rantage
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Six meta-skills for new programmers
Abstract skills new Cocoa programmers need to acquire. Continue reading
Resources: A Friendlier Approach
Very brief review of http://andymatuschak.org/articles/2007/09/09/getting-started-with-cocoa-a-friendlier-approach/ which makes tremendous sense to me. Continue reading
Posted in Culture of Programming, Resources, Teaching Programming, Tutorials
Tagged Bravo!, Documentation
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Resource: Apple Developer Documentation
Parts of Apple’s Developer Documentation are available free in the iBook store. Continue reading
Cocoa Font Attribute Handling
In which the principles of handling font attributes remain oblique. Continue reading
Posted in Culture of Programming, Teaching Programming
Tagged NSAttributedString, NSFont, NSFontManager, rantage, text styles
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Tutorials: UR doing it right
Review of an article about using multiple nibs which is extremely well thought out. Continue reading
Posted in Culture of Programming, Resources, Teaching Programming, Tutorials
Tagged Bravo!, hidden assumptions
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Explain Early, Explain Often
A thorough examination of the sophistication behind points[pointCount++ % 4] = click;. Continue reading