Programming
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Better Testing of View Controllers on iOS
→: Better Testing of View Controllers on iOSWhen I started testing iOS apps, which shamefully was not when I started writing iOS apps, I discovered the biggest impediment to thorough testing on iOS was the View Controller, and it’s mix of UI code, and not. Now I’m working on my first independent app (yay!) of course I am writing extensive unit tests. I won’t…
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#iOSDevUK: UIKit Dynamics
→: #iOSDevUK: UIKit DynamicsMy notes from Simon‘s excellent talk at iOSDevUK [his slides]. Physics for UIKit. “Visual layers and realistic motion impart vitality and heighten users’ delight and understanding” Buttons used to look like buttons, now they don’t. Don’t have visual cues. Compensate using Dynamics to add some motion. Not for flappy birds. Has tried it, can get…
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#iOSDevUK: Marcus Zarra – Not Invented Here
→: #iOSDevUK: Marcus Zarra – Not Invented HereSaw woman texting with a T9 phone. Stopped, looked, made sure he saw what he really saw. Presenting from a phone. First presentation, used a projector. Amazing how far we have come. Generally known as an opinionated person. Don’t speak in wishy washy words, very boolean. Either believe or don’t believe. If not, just shut…
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A Little Bit Of Data is a Dangerous Amount
→: A Little Bit Of Data is a Dangerous AmountWhen you have no data, everyone agrees: need more data. When you have a lot of data, what is happening is pretty clear. When you have a little bit of data, people can extrapolate. “It might show X”, “It might show Y”. Often declared without the caveats. Because “we don’t really know” is a much less compelling story,…
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Impostor Syndrome
→: Impostor SyndromeI’ve rejected a number of posts for today, because I worry that whatever comes next will be taken in the context of this. Because today is a day where the schedule says, write about women, and I think, I should write something positive. And there is so little positive to say about women in tech.…
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The Myth of the Intersection of Creativity, Energy, and Time
→: The Myth of the Intersection of Creativity, Energy, and TimeThere’s a common myth that makes side projects close to impossible. It’s thinking that side projects can only happen at the intersection of energy, creativity, and time. That’s a pretty high bar. That intersection doesn’t come around all that often. For me, it’s usually about day 3 of a 3 day weekend. The UK has 8 public holiday…
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Bikeshedding
→: BikesheddingOne of my friends sent me a grammatical suggestion on something I had written. I assumed he was right, made the edit, but then that looked wrong too, so I looked it up. Discovered they were both fine, but the way I had it was slightly preferred. Sent him the link, without that explanation, because…
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Software Engineers Aren’t Normal
→: Software Engineers Aren’t NormalTechies often try and do design (I am also guilty of this), and typically they design for themselves. I don’t think this is uncommon – a lot of people think they would be a good product manager based on little or no evidence, for example. However with techies, there are three common areas where they make…
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Passion and the Developer
→: Passion and the DeveloperI go to a startup event, and it’s interesting to hear non-technical people talking about developers like over-priced commodities. L comes to me for advice, she’s contemplating her next move and worrying about whether or not she feels passion for the project. C reads my blog, tells me that she can tell I’m passionate about writing from my writing. I say,…