Programming Challenges for Mac Developers 47
Carlos Camacho writes "iDevGames, a Macintosh Game Developer's Site has started issuing small programming challenges to Mac developers. The first challenge just wrapped up and the result is two nifty apps. The source code for both apps, and all apps entered into the programming challenges, will be released as open source. The next challenge has added an extra day, so developers have 72 hours. The focus is on creating an application to demonstrate 'A* pathfinding.'"
sounds like they are to lazy to do it themselves (Score:2, Insightful)
OK, here is the challenge:
* You may use ObjectiveC, C, C++, or Java only
* Create an application to demonstrate how A* Pathfinding works.
* You don't need to use fancy sprites. Simple circles, or stick figures is of course fine.
* Your world can be 2D, 2.5D, or 3D.
Outside of the
Re:sounds like they are to lazy to do it themselve (Score:4, Insightful)
zach
Re:sounds like they are to lazy to do it themselve (Score:2, Insightful)
That's rather like calling Slashdot lazy for trying to get their readers to write news articles for them. It completely misses the point of the site.
iDG is a community of Mac game developers. Some of them are hobbyists. Some of them are professionals. The developers there encourage each other, help each other out, compete against each other on small challenges like this one, or larger ones like the uDevGame contest which attract
Here's the skinny (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Here's the skinny (Score:1)
Meh. (Score:3, Insightful)
bleh?! (Score:1, Flamebait)
Re:bleh?! (Score:5, Informative)
Just as important as the the Cocoa book, is bookmarking the Apple Developer Documentation in Safari
file:///Developer/Documentation/Cocoa/Reference
file:///Developer/Documentation/Cocoa/Reference
I wasted money on a couple other books before I found that one.
If you're still having trouble learning, just ask someone for the source code to a finished app that isn't too big and study it. (If you're really desperate, I've got some code you can study).
- - - - -
Caffeine is not a substitute for sleep
Re:bleh?! (Score:5, Informative)
http://homepage2.nifty.com/hoshi-takanori/cocoa
Seems like a pretty obvious concept, so I'd be surprised if there aren't others. In any case, it can be handy.
Re:bleh?! (Score:3, Informative)
Re:bleh?! (Score:2)
Of course the real hidden XCode easter egg is to switch on the ultra-fast compiler by holding down the command key and typing "quicker".
Re:bleh?! (Score:2)
Re:bleh?! (Score:2, Informative)
That's probably right, but once you've finished it and digested it, so to speak, which probably won't take more than a couple of weeks, the next must-have is Anguish, Buck, and Yacktman: Cocoa Programming. Very in-depth reference guide with some excellent explanations of why Cocoa features work the way they do. Hillegass and Cheeseman are always saying "just do it this way, trust me," which i
Safari (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Safari (Score:3, Interesting)
Maybe that will be their third programming challenge.
This is a great idea. Contests to build up the amount of open source out there are cool. What's needed is a general purpose ladder and scoring system so you can actually rank coders. Very cool.
Re:Safari (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Safari (Score:1)
Re:Safari (Score:1)
Programming challenges for Mac Developers... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Programming challenges for Mac Developers... (Score:2, Funny)
NSTextField myRantTextField = [[NSTextField alloc] init];
[myRantTextField setStringValue: @"iReally wanted to barf the first time iSaw such a schizophrenic language."];
[myRantTextField selectText: self];
Re:Programming challenges for Mac Developers... (Score:2)
Re:Programming challenges for Mac Developers... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Programming challenges for Mac Developers... (Score:3, Funny)
That should confuse the hell out of everyone...
'oh I use i'
'uh i what?'
'just i'.
Re:Programming challenges for Mac Developers... (Score:2)
ei is the wave of the future.
Mac Developers on the farm (Score:1)
eieio
I'd like to suggest a challenge (Score:4, Insightful)
It'd save me *so* much time having to run around ensuring people don't have illegal copies of MS Office on their macs.
At least with my PC users:
a) The OpenOffice.org interface isn't glaringly different
b) They can't just copy the MS office folder between machines.
Re:I'd like to suggest a challenge (Score:2)
Of course, since the site posting these challenges is a gave developers' site, this entire thread is pretty much off topic.
Re:I'd like to suggest a challenge (Score:2)
Apple are coming out with their own product. It will be called either iWord, iWrite, iDesk, iOffice, or iWork.
I suggested iSoar, but they didn't want it.
Re:I'd like to suggest a challenge (Score:1)
Re:I'd like to suggest a challenge (Score:1)
As a spreadsheet, though, TeX is a little awkward...
zach
Recommended Cocoa references (Score:4, Informative)
Aaron Hillegass's most excellent Cocoa introduction Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X [bignerdranch.com]
When you're done with that one, skip on over and check out my defacto Cocoa bible, Cocoa Programming [cocoaprogramming.net]. Just a fantastic book, application design reference and compilation of knowlege from many years of working with these frameworks.
O'Reilly's Cocoa in a Nutshell [oreilly.com], the API listing you've been yearning for.
Always remember to include Apple's own Cocoa developer pages. [apple.com]
A* on Mac? I wrote that four years ago! (Score:1)
What's A* pathfinding? (Score:1)
Re:What's A* pathfinding? (Score:1)
Re:What's A* pathfinding? (Score:2, Informative)
Programming Challenge, presented by Guinness Draft (Score:3, Funny)
FRIEND: Behind on your homework? Brilliant!
ME: No, not brilliant. Hey, I've got an idea.
FRIEND: Brilliant!! ME: Hear the idea first! OK, so I've got an assignment due on A* pathfinding. Sooo, I'm gonna hold a programming competition and have everyone submit A* pathfinding programs to ME!
FRIEND: Get unsuspecting programmers to write your homework for you??