Musings from The Software Underground

From Walt Mossberg’s interview with Steve Jobs at the D: All Things Digital:

I think sometime later this year we will find a way to let third parties write apps and still preserve security. But until we can find that way, we can’t compromise the security of the phone. Nobody’s perfect, but we sure don’t want our phone to crash. We would like to solve this problem, if you could be just a little more patient with us, I think everyone can get what they want

I really hope so. Long, long ago I wrote apps for the Newton, I'd love to be able to write apps for the iPhone, the Newton's "spiritual successor."

Today SQLGrinder is available for $29.95 as a MacUpdate Promo. Even if you don't purchase, or have already purchased, click through and check it out. If SQLGrinder gets enough clicks, I could get some advertising as part of the deal, and every little bit helps!

(Please note: There was some confusion about who was sending out the serial numbers and when (MacUpdate or Advenio). I should have serial numbers sent out by the end of the day. I apologize for the delay and hope to have things resolved as soon as possible.)

SQLGrinder MacUpdate Promo for May 30.

Kevin goes over the things he's learned in his first year as an indie Mac developer. There are lessons to be learned here for those starting out.

One year as an indie Mac developer: What I've learned

Wil Shipley answers a reader's question about whether or not they should attend college and study computer science, and whether or not it's worth actually getting the degree. In addition to his ultimate conclusion:

Are you going to use the lessons you learned in CS in 'real-world' programming? Yes. Not all of them, but the ones you do use are going to make a HUGE difference. The delta between programmers who know when to use a hash table and those who don't is enormous. The delta between programmers who understand the O(n) stuff and those who don't is also huge. Too many programs are written by programmers who, frankly, suck at theory, and they write slow, crappy programs as a result. Get a solid basis in the science before you become a programmer.

which I totally have to agree with, I'd add a bunch of things.

Do you HAVE to get a degree in computer science to work in the industry, develop Mac applications, etc.? No, you really don't. But here's what actually studying it in school will give you, above all else: a solid background in the science of developing software. How to write better, tighter, cleaner code. How to think about the "big picture." How to plan and actually design things, rather than just throwing things together. How to work on projects with a team, and with other people's code. The advantages are many.

Granted, some people will have these skills naturally, but that vast majority won't, and attending a good C.S. program will teach you the basics that you will use for the rest of your career. Instead of just learning one programming language, you'll learn the theory that will allow you do easily use ANY programming language, without much struggle.

One thing that you'll have to be aware of, though, is that a lot of good programs will require you to also study math and science, and this can be a detraction. But they do it in the spirit of "well-roundedness." They also do it because it adds more theory and problem solving skills to your kit, and that's what computer science really is, problem solving. Some programs can be really tough, and not everyone will be like Wil who "literally got an 'A' for showing up." My computer science class started with around 54 students. By the end of a very punishing first year, that number was cut in half, because people realized that it wasn't for them, and that there was actually work involved.

Still, it's worth it. And you'll see the fruits of your education throughout your career. You'll see the fruits when you compare your clean, well organized code to the sometimes sloppy code of someone who didn't go to school (I know, this is a generalization, but in general, I've found the code of people who went to school to be be much better than that of those who didn't). You'll see the fruits when you are being considered for a position along with someone who has similar experience, but no degree. And you'll see the fruits of your study because when you REALLY have a strong foundation in software development, all the basics will come so easily, you'll be able to concentrate on solving the real problems, and that's what makes software development enjoyable.

Labels: Musings

MacGourmet 2.1.2, a maintenance release, is now available.

This release fixes a bunch of minor issues. For a full list of changes, please see the release notes.

MacGourmet 2.1.2 can be downloaded from the MacGourmet download page.

Labels: MacGourmet

Today Stephan, formerly the other half of Advenio, released his first new product under the Yellow Camp banner: Anzan. Anzan is a simple, easy-to-use file transfer app that speeds frequent file transfers between your Macs, or groups of Macs that you might find in an office. It's easier to use than email, because there aren't nearly as many steps, and it's easier to use than mounting disks for everyone you want to transfer to because the people you want to send to are right there in your list of Anzan "buddies" the same way they are there in, say, iChat. Buy before May 21st and you can save 20% too, details are in the full press release.

From the press release:

Anzan makes the transfer of a file to a co-worker or family member as simple as dropping a file onto the recipient’s name. With Anzan you can think in terms of who you wish to send a file to instead of how to send it. No more struggling to remember computer names and accounts or mounting and unmounting remote file systems; just drag, drop, and off your file goes! Need to send the same files to multiple people, or include a short message with the files you send? Anzan lets you do both with ease. And receiving files is just as simple. For example, if you find yourself receiving files from certain individuals frequently you can tell Anzan to automatically accept transfers from those people. What’s more, Anzan provides a history of your transfers, both sent and received, and can quickly reveal these files in Finder.

Congratulations on the new product release Stephan!

For the full details: Anzan 1.0 PR Release